Wild Spring Ahead with Late-Season Snow, Tornadoes

While the weather has finally calmed down across much of the eastern two-thirds of the country this week, a look at the longer range suggests that many residents may be in for a wild spring.

Wintry events that last into April across the northern tier of the nation and an above-normal severe weather season farther south are some of the main highlights in AccuWeather.com Chief Long Range Forecaster Joe Bastardi's outlook for the next few months.

To sum it up, Bastardi said, "This spring should be a wilder one than last year."

Winter May Keep Delivering Punches into April.

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Active Severe Weather Season Predicted

The other major concern in the longer range is the potential for the severe weather season this spring to be more active than normal.

This means there could be more severe thunderstorms and tornadoes than average.

Severe weather season usually starts ramping up across the Gulf Coast states late February into March.

The peak in tornado season typically doesn't happen until April or May for much of the Plains, Midwest and Southeast.

Some AccuWeather.com meteorologists have also pointed out that the severe weather season may get off to a late start this year, due to the fact that sea surface temperatures across the Gulf of Mexico are below normal.

Winter is Generally Over for the South

Above-normal warmth has replaced the extreme cold that gripped the South a good part of December and January.

Overall, AccuWeather.com long-range forecasters think temperatures will average out above normal in the coming months across the region.

Pastelok said, "The one key [with the long-range forecast] is the South, where I think the extremes of cold are gone." However, Bastardi is still warning that the threat of one more prolonged period of cold late in the season is a concern into April.

He says this may be a "mini version" of the extreme cold that gripped Texas the first two weeks of February.

By Heather Buchman, Meteorologist – Accuweather.com