Spring Weather – Spring Storm Types

Now that it is March, it is officially meteorological spring. While spring may deliver more pleasant weather, it comes with its own hazards. Here’s a look at the different types of storms that can present dangerous weather into spring:

• Blizzards and extreme cold make their presence felt into spring, especially during March. There’s plenty of arctic air still locked up in Canada and it’s not rare for a piece of the frigid air to invade the U.S. When the cold air combines with the more active southern branch of the jet stream, snow and even blizzards can result. As a matter of fact, March is the snowiest month for cities like Denver.
• Severe thunderstorms are perhaps the most obvious spring weather threat. As cold air from the north clashes into warm air bubbling up from the south, severe storms can result. Damaging wind gusts, large hail and tornadoes are common in the spring months from the Plains to the Southeast.
• Flooding also takes center stage during spring. Whether it be a melting snowpack or training rounds of heavy rain, flooding ramps up with the warmer temperatures.
• Excessive heat starts to make a comeback, especially by the second half of spring. The Southern Tier is especially susceptible to the heat, with areas like Phoenix having an average high of 95 degrees by May.
• High winds and high fire danger are another threat. High wind events are possible during the spring months as the temperature difference over short distances can be extreme. In addition, areas that have received little rain and even been enveloped in drought can experience high fire danger as the winds ramp up.

If you’re ready for warmer temperatures and longer days, luckily spring is arriving. However, be aware of the threats that spring can deliver.

Source: weather.gov
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Story Image: Spring can bring dangerous thunderstorms (pixabay.com).