A ‘Warmer Than Usual’ Spring Is Headed Our Way
With an arctic airmass suspended over NYC this week bringing us the coldest weather in two years, it’s safe to say we’re all deep in the winter blues. And, to add insult to injury, this is also the coldest January in 13 years. But we’re here to bring you some good news: beyond the days slowly but surely getting longer–we just experienced the first 5 pm sunset of the year–we’ve also got spring to look forward to, and this one will be warmer than usual.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac recently released its long-range weather outlook for the spring, and with it comes the news that it’s shaping up to be a warm one! Yes, just a few more weeks of bundling up with your trusty black puffer coat and then we’ll be free from the icy grips of winter!
Here’s what to know:
What is a long-range weather outlook?
Long-range weather means the Almanac is predicting weather conditions over a period of time, such as a seasonal outlook, not for a specific day. They do this by focusing on three forecasting disciplines–solar science, climatology, and meteorology–and comparing temperature and precipitation levels to “normals” based on 30-year rolling averages.
What factors are influencing the 2025 spring weather outlook?
According to the Almanac, there are a number of things influencing the weather outlook for spring 2025, one of them being Solar Cycle 25. Solar Cycle 25 is expected to reach its maximum around July 2025, and with these high solar activity levels comes warmer temperatures, on average, across Earth. “Solar Cycle 25 has steadily increased in intensity and has already exceeded the peak of Solar Cycle 24,” says the Alamanac.
The Almanac also has its eye on a few Oscillations, which are ocean-atmosphere weather patterns that recur over long periods. They’re currently monitoring the following:
- A weak La Nina phase of the ENSO (El Nino/Southern Oscillation)
- A warm Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO)
- A cool Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO)
Finally, the Almanac is watching solar activity and equatorial stratospheric winds, known as the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO), all of which can impact spring temperatures and precipitation.
What is the Spring 2025 Weather Prediction for NYC?
According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the U.S. spring outlook predicts warmer than normal temperatures for most of the country. But you’ll want to keep your umbrella handy, because it’s also predicting more rainfall than usual for much of the country.
For the Atlantic Corridor, which is the region that includes New York City, the Almanac writes:
From Boston to Richmond, temperatures will be warmer than usual, with the southern region seeing temperatures 5°F above average in April. Rainfall will be above normal in April and slightly below normal in May.
The NOAA is supporting this forecast with a long-range outlook of their own, which shows that from Arizona to Maine, including New York, will see above-average temperatures over the next three months.
As usual, we’ll be awaiting the prediction of our good ‘ol pal Punxsutawney Phil on Sunday, February 2nd to see whether or not he sees his shadow. But at least our waiting will be hopeful–the Farmer’s Almanac predicts that Phil won’t see his shadow, suggesting an early spring!
The post A ‘Warmer Than Usual’ Spring Is Headed Our Way appeared first on Secret NYC.