Just when you thought you could start packing away your winter coat, the latest weather forecasts deliver a rather stark message: winter is not ready to let go. Despite calendars turning to mid-February and many already dreaming of spring attire, our region is set for a prolonged period of cold. True climatic spring is still a distant prospect, with new data indicating that warmer weather won’t arrive before April.
A weekend chill and deceptive warmth
Meteorologists are issuing a stern warning: complacency is not an option. This coming weekend, icy frosts are set to return, reminiscent of the deep freezes of January. Daytime temperatures could plummet to a brutal -13 degrees Celsius, with nights even colder, dropping to a biting -18 degrees.
While a brief thaw is anticipated in the third week of February, any comfort will be short-lived. This warmth will be accompanied by heavy and frequent snowfall, which will once again complicate travel conditions and serve as a potent reminder that winter’s end is still a long way off. It’s a classic case of winter’s final push, making you think it’s over, only for it to hit you again.
March offers little hope
When discussing March, experts are decidedly unenthusiastic, dashing hopes for an early arrival of warmth. The first official month of spring is predicted to be cold and snowy, meaning those sturdy winter jackets will remain essential wardrobe items for quite some time. According to forecasters, genuine spring weather will only begin sometime in April, when everything will finally start to melt in earnest, and rain will replace snow.
Until then, March, particularly its first half, will still be considered a full winter month in climatic terms. Residents will have to endure several more cold snaps and the so-called “winter swings,” where a brief period of warmth is followed by a sharp plunge in temperatures. It’s like a roller coaster, but with frostbite.
The critical six weeks
The burning question on many minds is about the true start of spring. Calculations suggest that nature is not playing any tricks this year; spring will neither be late nor arrive prematurely. The average daily temperature will consistently stay above zero according to the region’s usual schedule. This implies that winter will reign supreme in our area for at least another six weeks before handing over the baton to meteorological spring.
Therefore, the real meteorological turning point, marking the definitive end of winter, is expected in Lithuania around the end of March or the beginning of April. Until then, typical winter conditions will prevail, with snowfall, night frosts, and only brief thaws. This means that residents of the region will need to keep wearing their warm winter clothing for at least another month and a half.
So, are you ready to brace for these last six weeks of intense winter, or have you already started planning your first spring outing? Let us know in the comments!