​When Will It Feel Like Spring In WA: Farmers’ Almanac Outlook

WASHINGTON — Meteorological spring started this week, but the astronomical season gets underway in earnest with the arrival of the vernal equinox on March 20. So, when might it start to feel like springtime in Puget Sound?

It may be a good idea to hold off on spring garden cleanup and let fallen leaves protect ornamental plants a little longer in many areas of the country, according to the Farmers’ Almanac long-range spring weather forecast.

In the Pacific Northwest, the Farmers’ Almanac is predicting seasonal temperatures and precipitation, so we may be in for a real spring after all.

The first day of the season is likely to feel more like winter in much of the country. Fortunately for us, the exceptions are in far western states Washington, Oregon, Idaho and the Southwest, and the Northeast. Temperatures are expected to be mild in both regions of the country.

Almost everyone else should be prepared to “shiver and shovel,” according to the forecast for a “soggy, shivery spring ahead.”

People living in the nation’s midsection should prepare for an active spring. In the Great Lakes states, that’s likely to mean more snow into April. In the heartland, frequent heavy-to-severe thunderstorms are predicted.

Southeast states are likely in for a wet March in a weather pattern that will spread north and west from April through June.

• Related: Winter Isn’t Done Yet: AccuWeather Spring Forecast

While long-term climate outlooks still favor cooler temperatures lingering through March, that signal weakens in April and May, along with the expectations for rain.