RI Long-Range Spring Weather Forecast Revealed

Forget what the groundhog said. AccuWeather has your spring forecast ready, despite being about five weeks from the season's official first day. As you may have guessed, it's not overly optimistic.

Rain and snow are expected to linger into April in the Northeast. It will be a slow transition to the springlike weather we all yearn for. Forecasters are even warning to delay planting season if you were planning on starting early.

"If it does warm up, it won’t last for a long duration," AccuWeather long-range forecaster Paul Pastelok said. "I think [warmth] comes in spurts throughout March, April and May."

Of course, you should take long-range forecasts for what they are worth. Forecasters often base longer predictions off patterns and trends.

To get the point, just take a look at AccuWeather's 90-day forecast, which in our case is a little more forgiving as we get to the end of March. Temperatures then will finally getting back up into the 50s - according to the 90-day forecast - but not until after a final week of snow.

For what it's worth, the Farmer's Almanac has also been expecting cool and rainy conditions through March. But again, even the trusty Farmer's Almanac is essentially throwing darts. It claims it uses a secret formula that comes from mathematical and astronomical information.

You're just as well off asking Punxsutawney Phil what he thinks.

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