Earlier and earlier springs

The media central climate – which brings together scholars and journalists – has participated in this Spring data analysis From 242 weather stations across the country, it looks for regional trends in daily temperatures, but also in the calendar.

And while some rejoice in shorter winters, for others it means mosquito season. who starts earlier Which lasts longer, and pollen allergies, too, Start earlier.

Unsurprisingly, it is the Southwest that suffers from the three cities where the increase in temperature since 1970 has been the highest: Reno and Las Vegas (Nevada) as well as El Paso (Texas). In Reno, while the average temperature for what meteorologists define as spring (March, April, May) was 8°C in the early 1970s, it was just over 11°C in the late 1970s. 2010. With approximately, during these three months, 50 days above normal, compared to about fifteen days in the early 1970s.

Closer to Quebec, even Burlington, Vermont, is no exception, with 45 days above normal compared to 32 days in 1970.

Last month, the media made Similar analysis on precipitation trends since 1981. If we compare the averages of 1981-2010 and 1991-2020, we see an increase in precipitation east of the Rockies, especially in the center of the continent, and a decrease in the west – that is, on the Pacific side – especially in the southwest.

Photo: Sherbrooke, May 2017 / Andrey Chevinsky / Flickr