WASHINGTON — The official start of spring is March 19, 2020 but we are already feeling those spring-like temperatures well ahead of it.
The spring 2020 outlook from the Climate Prediction Center shows a probability of warmer than average temperatures for March, April and May.
Since this winter was a mild one, it already has some of you asking what kind of summer we'll have in the DMV.
Early indication in the long-term trends shows a decent probability of higher than average temperatures. The Climate Prediction Center show about a 50 percent probability of warmer than average temperatures for June, July and August. But how much warmer, has yet to be determined.
For example, the average high on August 12 in D.C. is 87 degrees. We could see a high in the upper 80s or even highs in the 90s on that day depending on what weather system in place. Even with warmer than average temperatures being the likely outcome, we may still experience a summer day with cooler than average temperatures if we get a cloudy and wet weather pattern.
The closer we get to summer, the better idea we will have of the large scale patterns that help shape the forecasts.
So far we don't have an El Nino or La Nina in place and it may stay that way during the summer. Conditions often vary, but La Nina in the spring has been linked to more tornadoes and hail storms. El Nino is usually associated with a slower hurricane season. Conditions will likely remain ENSO neutral (no El Nino or La Nina) through the summer according to The Climate Prediction Center.
