The first official day of spring is either on March 20 or 21st every day. When it comes to Meteorological data, we classify spring as starting on March 1st.

Here’s why:

**For last spring frost and freeze data, scroll to the bottom

Spring Wildfire season

Spring flooding

April showers bring May flowers, or May flooding. Spring flooding is very common across our area. Here are two links for spring flooding outlooks.

Mid-Atlantic River Flood Outlook

National Significant River Flood Outlook

Spring Leaf Index

Did you know there’s a phenology network that tracks the progress of the spring tree bloom? You can track the status of spring and see how it compares to average:

USA National Phenology Network

Where the trees are starting to bloom and the timing compared to average

Monarch Butterfly Migration

Learn all about the monarch butterfly migration from Mexico. Take a look at the migration map and sighting dates. There is also some great learning information for kids.

Journey North

Monarch butterfly migration map

Hummingbird Migration

Learn all about the hummingbird migration and where hummingbird sightings are.

Hummingbird Central

Hummingbird migration map

You can also read more information if you want to read more on putting out feeders and information from the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center:

Bird Migration Forecast

Did you know there’s a website that tracks the bird migration? They use weather forecast tools to track the migration and when the majority of the birds might be over a certain area. When the birds are migrating, you can help out by turning out your lights. This helps the birds at night so it doesn’t lure them to artificial light, which can cause injury in some cases. You can even enter in your specific location to get the migration forecast.

Bird Migration Maps

Check out where the birds are migrating to and see the forecast

Soil Temperature, current and forecast

Soil Temperature

Cherry Blossom Peak Bloom

It’s not spring in the Mid-Atlantic without the cherry blossoms. You can track the estimated peak bloom dates and the cherry blossom bloom status from the National Park system. Keep in mind the bloom forecast is all dependant on weather. A warm spell can speed up the bloom while a rainy or cool spell can stall it. The peak bloom time varies year to year

Cherry Blossom Bloom Watch

Cherry blossom forecast and information

Spring Drought Outlook

US Seasonal Drought Outlook

A look at where potential drought conditions either persist or worsen

Last Spring Frost and Freeze Data

A frost can occur with temperatures below 36°. For optimal frost conditions, you’re looking for calm wind, that’s no breeze at all, and clear skies. Of course the cold temperatures. The coldest temperatures on a night with calm wind and clear skies will be any low spots, so at the base of any terrain, at the bottom of a hill, in a sheltered valley, etc.

Frost becomes much more widespread with temperatures right at 32° and a hard freeze is temperatures at 28° or below.

How to read the table: The average last frost date is going to be at 36°, but there is still a 10% chance of this or a lower temperature after this date. The 50% date means there’s still a 50% change of 36° or colder after that date.

At 32° that’s a hard frost and a light freeze. There’s still a 10% chance of temperatures at or below 32° after this date.

At 28° this is the average last hard freeze date. There’s still a 10% chance of temperatures at or below 28° after this date.

DALE ENTERPRISE (Harrisonburg)

STAUNTON

LURAY

WOODSTOCK

PETERSBURG, WV (elevation below 1,000′)

WARDENSVILLE (more realistic dates for most of our West Virginia locations)

BAYARD, WV (Alleghenies)

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