KEY CONCEPTS
Ready or not, next week brings us the first day of March and the beginning of meteorological spring. In our analysis of 243 cities across the U.S., 120 cities (49%) have recorded an increase in average spring temperatures of 2℉ or more over the past fifty years. Further, 96% of cities (234) reported an increase in the number of above-normal spring days since 1970, with 81% of cities (196) reporting an increase of 5 days or more.
Warming spring temperatures follow a pattern of warmer seasons encroaching on the cold of winter resulting in an earlier advent of spring and throwing timing of natural events into misalignment. For instance, earlier snowmelt can result in changes in water availability and challenges to the breeding of native fish. Earlier spring temperatures can also lengthen the growing season, supporting longer pollen allergy seasons that start earlier and stick around for longer.
After last week’s release of global temperature data placing 2019 as Earth’s second hottest year and the 2010s the hottest decade on record, news of record-breaking temperatures doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. It’s been unseasonably warm throughout the eastern United States, with all-time record high January temperatures from Boston, MA to Naples, FL.
After the hottest decade on record from 2010-2020, the warming temperature trend is continuing to rapidly accelerate through 2020. Remember that the climate has always changed and always will. The