Where is the Spring Season Already in Full Bloom in the U.S.?

Despite Punxsutawney Phil's prediction of six more weeks of winter last weekend, record warmth has been the story for the South over the last few days. Has spring officially sprung in this part of the U.S. and what can you expect as the official start of the season inches closer? Here is what you need to know.

South Already Showing Signs of Spring

The official start of the meteorological spring is on March 1, however, it has felt like winter is already in the rearview mirror for many parts of the South. In addition to the appearance of some budding leaves in this part of the country, pollen counts are also on the march upwards.

The National Phenology Network (NPN) is charged with tracking the onset of spring using a method that studies when the first leaves begin to appear. This is known as a "leaf-out." While the rest of the U.S. is still dealing with the ferocity of winter weather and all of its headaches, the South has already begun to show the signs of the season in some areas.

The arrival of the warmth has been a bit delayed across the Gulf Coast. This is a part of the nation that experienced a record-breaking winter storm event in January, likely contributing to the delay of the leaf-out. However, now that the mercury is back on the upswing, the sure signs of the season are starting to emerge.

For instance, after picking up 8 inches of snow just a month ago, New Orleans broke a new daily record high for the date on Thursday when it hit 82 degrees. It was a similar situation across the southern Plains when Lubbock, Texas saw the mercury surge to 91 degrees last Monday. Not only was this reading a tie for the record high in the month of February for Lubbock but the 90-degree day came a full nine days earlier than the previous record.

Right on schedule, the spring-like temperatures have also translated to the appearance of leaves across much of the southern U.S. As the warmth has crept up to the north, so have the leaf-out sightings. For instance, leaves have begun to pop early in parts of north Texas, the southern portion of Arkansas, northern Mississippi, and across Alabama. Atlanta has also seen some of its city's leaves pop out a few weeks early.

Heading to the other side of the country, California is also recording the appearance of leaves in areas that typically do not see them come out until later in February. The NPN detailed that these parts of the country generally experience an early spring such as this every one to four years, meaning that it is not entirely atypical to notice the greening up of the vegetation.

While green leaves are starting to show off for a large part of the southern U.S., the colorful blooms associated with the spring season are still dormant. South Florida is the only part of the nation already enjoying the bright colors that distinguish the season.

Pollen Counts Also Trending Upward

Unfortunately for allergy sufferers, pollen counts are also on the rise. The highest pollen readings are circulating in the central portions of Florida and along the immediate Gulf Coast. However, these allergens will continue to expand in the weeks ahead as the warm weather becomes more consistent. At this point in the season, a cold snap can easily bring these counts down.

The visible impacts of pollen are also starting to show up on vehicles in parts of Florida. The live oak trees in the Sunshine State are largely responsible for producing the pollen at this time of the early season.

You may be wondering what to expect as February enters the back half and March is right around the corner. The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) is forecasting that the unseasonable warmth will hold across the South. This surge of warmth will begin to make its way up into the mid-Atlantic as the calendar flips to March. It will be a different situation for the northern half of the country.

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