Record Highs Possible for First Day of Spring

Spring officially began at 5:29 Monday morning. It’s been a warm start to spring, as temperatures this morning are in the mid to upper 50s, with isolated locations in the 60s. Needless to say it’s beginning to feel more and more like spring, in fact one could argue this winter was more of a spring than winter.

Since record keeping began back in the late 1800s for Columbia, the start to spring has seen a variety of weather patterns. For the past several years, you can actually see how spring brings about wild changes.

Spring 2016:

Saturday, March 19, 2016 – 45 degrees

Spring 2015:

Friday, March 20, 2015 – 53 degrees

Spring 2014:

Thursday, March 20, 2014 – 68 degrees

Spring 2013:

Wednesday, March 20, 2013 – 35 degrees

Spring 2012:

Tuesday, March 20, 2012 – 78 (1.09″)

March is known as swing month when it comes to temperatures and you can clearly see from the past 5 years, we’ve seen almost a 50 degree temperature span. This spring will be no different, but it will be the warmest start to spring since 2012. With a forecasted high of 81 degrees, that will tie the record set back in 1953 for Columbia. Enjoy today, because cooler and wetter conditions return to Mid-Missouri as we head through the rest of this week.