Winter still in the air for official start of spring

 

While Tuesday marked the official start of spring across Michiana, there's still are many hints of winter in the immediate forecast. 

Typically, the start of spring is not even close to the end of the snow season for southwest Michigan and northern Indiana. In fact, South Bend's average last date of measurable snow is in early April. While we saw the snow season end on March 18 last year, that ended up finishing as one of the earliest ends to measurable snow on record in South Bend. 

While some across the Midwest could see accumulating snow this weekend, Michiana's snow chances continue to decrease. It looks like our round of precipitation Friday will fall mostly in the form of rain.

The real concern, especially in spots where spring has already "sprung," is a bout of subfreezing temperatures that will visit Michiana this week. Temperatures will likely bottom out in the lower 20s Wednesday night into Thursday morning as the wind finally relaxes. 

Fortunately for places like Lehman's Orchard in Berrien County, most of their trees are still in "winter mode." While locations across most of Indiana are seeing spring leaves up to three weeks ahead of schedule, most of Michigan has not observed the same. 

Still, if you have sensitive vegetation, either cover your plants or bring them inside if possible until temperatures rise next week.