1st Day Of Spring: What To Expect In Latest MD Forecast

MARYLAND — While we can still see frosty mornings and the last freeze is several weeks away, March 20 officially ushered in the first day of spring at 5:37 a.m. ET. Long-range forecasts are contradictory, with the Old Farmers Almanac recently releasing its predictions for spring.

According to the publication, April and May will be warmer and drier than normal in the Mid-Atlantic region, with an early hot spell in early to mid-April.

Here's what the Old Farmers Almanac predicts for Maryland's spring season:

• March 20-26: Rainy periods, mild
• March 27-31: Sunny, warm
• March: temperature 45 degrees (1 degree above avg.); precipitation 3.5" (0.5" below avg.)

April 2021 Forecast:

• April 1-7: A few showers, turning warm
• April 8-13: Sunny, hot
• April 14-17: Showers, warm
• April 18-24: Rainy periods, cool
• April 25-30: Showers, warm
• April temperature 57 degrees (5 degrees above avg.); precipitation 2.5" (1" below avg.)

Last month the Farmers' Almanac forecast for spring suggested we can expect wet and mild weather to come with it. Plenty of thunderstorms are likely across eastern states in late April, which could spur tornadoes in a few cases.

Toward the end of May, an early spell of heat could cover much of the eastern U.S., the almanac said.

The overall spring weather pattern across the country will be influenced by La Niña before weakening in early summer, according to AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok. The La Niña effects could create an active severe weather season.

The Accuweather spring forecast said winter may carry over into late March and April with a last round of winter storms.

Here's the Maryland forecast for the coming week, according to the National Weather Service:

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 56. Northeast wind 3 to 5 mph.

Saturday night: Clear, with a low around 36. Calm wind.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 61. Calm wind becoming northeast around 6 mph in the morning.

Sunday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 39. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 60. Light northeast wind becoming east 5 to 9 mph in the morning.

Monday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 43.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 62.

Tuesday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64.

Wednesday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51.

Thursday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Friday: A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 67. Chance of precipitation is 40%.