It's Over, Too Warm Too Early, Super El Nino Coming?

Winter 2025-26 officially ended at 9:46 AM this morning, the exact moment of the Spring Equinox. Equinoxes & solstices (change of seasons) happen/are caused by the 23.5-degree tilt of the Earth's axis as it rotates around the sun.

That tilt means the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun in the summer, allowing for longer days and more intense sunshine.  The reverse happens in the Winter.  It can be seen on the global satellite view, where today both Poles have equal day/nights.

Typically, in March, as we change seasons, there are active storms with wide weather swings across the nation.  But not today as 75 % of the country is enjoying bright sunshine and very warm temperatures.

Only the Great Lakes and the Northeast have clouds and chilly temperatures.

Areas that just last week had snow are now in the 70s & 80s.

Without any fronts around, most of the nation will enjoy almost summer-like heat this weekend.

There is some concern over our lack of rainfall as we approach the growing season.  However, until temps get near 90 every day, any drought issues are easily handled by watering your lawn & plants.  No rain is expected for the next 7-10 days.

As you can see, the next week will be more May-like than late March.  There might be a weak front coming for NEXT weekend, bringing us a chance for rain.  The other weather story on the internet is the "Super El Niño" coming for this next hurricane season.  I have no clue how anyone could know that, but the CPC has issued an El Niño WATCH, and that has triggered the usual over hyping.  We are 2+ months from the start of the 2026 season.  The first forecasts will be coming out in the next 2 weeks.  My gut tells me they'll call for few total number of storms (10-12), but they will "predict" several U.S. landfalls, unlike the zero hurricane landfalls we had in 2025.  Let's enjoy our 4-6 weeks of Spring weather before we have to endure the summer heat and the anxiety of each hurricane season.  Stay tuned!

Warm Dry Period Coming, Spring Equinox Friday Morning

As we enter the last two weeks in March, long-range computer models are indicating this is the last real cool spell until next Fall.  In fact, a huge upper ridge is developing over the western states that will make them feel summer-like.  Here's the CPC's (Climate Prediction Center) 8-14 day temperature outlook.

LAX & Phoenix are 90+ with Denver approaching 80, while Miami is struggling to reach 70.  The upper trough causes cool temperatures, while the upper ridge causes above-normal warmth.  We are not done with cold fronts, but by the time another one comes, it will be April.  The longer days and higher sun angle will quickly moderate any cold air.  Officially, Spring (Equinox) arrives on Friday at 9:46 AM.

You can see the surface high is now centered to our east with a return SSW flow setting up to our west.  The really low dew points (teens) have retreated to our east as DPs in the 40s surge across Texas. We got hosed today by a cloud cover that limited our warming.

Without clouds on Thursday, temperatures should be 10-15 degrees warmer.

This weekend will return us to 80+ each day.  Finally, I'm seeing chatter hinting that an El Niño will be coming for this Hurricane season.  IF that proves reality, El Niño typically means increased wind shear over the Tropics reducing/limiting the number of storms.  We're about two weeks away from the first early season Hurricane Predictions.  Stay tuned!