Weather Channel Says Early Spring, Warmer Temps For Illinois

Okay, let's just admit it. It's been really nice outside for a few weeks now. Temperatures are in the 60s again today with more days like this one to follow. Looking at the extended forecast, Northern Illinois will be seeing temperatures in the 70s next week, if you can believe it.

And that's the problem.

Long-time Illinois residents have been fooled into thinking that winter was over and spring was about to start many times in the past. Think back to early-season baseball games being postponed due to snow, ice, and cold. I remember shoveling the sidewalk on Mother's Day one year, for crying out loud.

Is it foolish to think that this time, winter may be just about over and spring is ready to take the stage? Not according to the experts in this sort of thing.

The Expert Forecasters At The Weather Channel Seem Pretty Convinced That The Worst Is Over (for Illinois, at least) And Spring Will Be Coming Early

When I read the headline at Weather.com that said "Spring 2024 Outlook: Warmer Than Average For Most Of US" I thought that I'd see something like "except for Illinois" a few sentences in to the piece...but no.

The only exception to the warmer than average prediction by the Weather Channel is the southeast coast, and since I don't live there...oh, well.

Weather.com:

Since December, the northern tier – particularly the Midwest – has been some 5 to 12 degrees above average, due in part to the far-above-average water temperatures in the eastern Pacific. The record-mildest winter to date for many cities is likely to become a mild spring across much of the northern tier, and that warmth could spread across much of the Rockies and Plains.

Here's What All Of That Means For Illinois And An Early Spring

Unless these forecasters are seriously off of their game and the super-mild winter temperatures we've had (for the most part) here in Illinois are a complete ruse, we may be able to stow those snow-shovels very soon, if not right away.

Here's what the Weather Channel says Illinois has to look forward to:

• Slightly above average temperatures for Illinois in March. Parts of the upper Midwest could see well-above-average temperatures
• April will bring above-average temps for the entire state
• Warmer temps continue into May with above average temperatures for the Upper Midwest.