Michigan in for an ‘Unsettled’ Spring, Farmer’s Almanac Says

It's safe to say that people in the area are ready for spring. It's been a cold few weeks, even colder than is normal for this time, and I personally can't wait to see green grass and spring flowers start to bloom. So, how long will we have to wait for spring to arrive? That's a messy question with a messy answer, but the Farmer's Almanac has released its official spring weather prediction for the U.S., so here's what they believe we can expect from the coming spring months.

So, when does spring officially start? According to the experts at the Farmer's Almanac, "Traditionally, we celebrate the first day of spring on March 21, but astronomers and calendar manufacturers alike now say that the spring season starts on March 20 in all time zones in North America. Yet spring equinox marks the official start of the spring season." National Calendar Day adds that "Spring begins on the March or vernal equinox, which is when the amount of sunshine is approximately 12 hours long. The amount of sunlight will incrementally increase until the first day of Summer." So, spring runs from March 20 through June 20. Also, June 20 marks the longest day of the year, and after that, the days start getting shorter again.

Now, let's get to the spring weather forecast from the Farmer's Almanac. Looking at the U.S. as a whole, unfortunately, it's looking like a late spring. The Farmer's Almanac's "long range weather forecast says spring weather will take its time arriving, allowing winter conditions to linger, especially across the Midwest, Great Lakes, New England, and Northeast regions." They add that "an unusually late winter storm brings a blanket of rain, sleet, and snow across the Atlantic Seaboard and mountainous areas in the Southeast during the first week of April."

Specifically, in Michigan, looking at the Easter weather forecast for this spring, the Almanac says, "Fair for Easter, then unsettled." For Memorial Day, they note, "Unsettled weather spreads into Ohio Valley, unfortunately dampening Memorial Day weekend." If you're thinking of heading to the Indy-500, they add that it could be wet.

If you're looking to garden this spring, the Farmer's Almanac, of course, has some tips. One of their most important is to add nutrition to you soil. They note that enriching the soil by adding organic substances, such as "compost or decomposed manure," can really help your plants thrive.