The theme of this spring’s temperatures was whiplash. Some areas saw spring arrive early and then give way to cold spells. Others experienced a cooler spring but with weeks and spells of unusually high temperatures mixed in. 

The last week has been a weather up-and-down: one day it’s snowing, one day it’s raining, one day it’s -9 celcius and one day it’s +7 celcius. This has caused a lot of confusing conditions on the ground; puddles turn to ice, to piles of snow, to nothing at all.

— Samantha Butler

In addition to roller-coaster temperatures, ISeeChangers documented drought, allergies, unusual rains, and plenty of bugs this spring.

Drought

ISeeChangers throughout the U.S. and in Germany reported early dryness and drought this spring. Severe drought posts came in from parts of California, where community members found creeks too dry to host tadpoles, missing wildflowers, and struggling plants. Some wildfires have also already started.

This May, the California poppies that normally grow in my side yard are much less prolific, and half of those that bloomed have already dried out. Normally this time of year they’d still be lush and green even without irrigation. Right next to the poppies, in the other picture, you can see a large juniper bush. I’m removing it because it has started to dry out and die, and has become a fire hazard. The drought here in California is just getting started…

— Kelly Powers

Drought was also a problem in the Northeast, the Midwest and the Carolinas. Even parts of Florida went weeks without rain.

No rain for 2 weeks in May in Pensacola, is not the average. Empty dry rain gauge

— Chris Curb

Wet spring in New Orleans, Eastern Colorado

While other places were dealing with drought, ISeeChangers in New Orleans got an unusual amount of rain in March and April. Spring rainfall totals were more than two times the average.

Since the current weather pattern started on Tuesday, there has been over 5” of rainfall at my location. I hesitate to mark it unusual because these storms are becoming more common. It is quite unusual for April though.

— Michele Huck

It was also a good spring for precipitation — snow early in the season and rain late — in Eastern Colorado, helping most of the state east of the Rocky Mountains out of drought conditions.

It’s been raining all morning and when I woke up it seemed pretty dark for 9 am. Of course this happens but it seems like we’ve been having one of the rainiest springs in Colorado that I can remember. Usually we have sunny mornings followed by rain in the afternoon. Not usually all day like this. It was kind of humid yesterday too, in Fort Collins and Longmont.

— Matthew Hughes

Severe allergy season

ISeeChangers reported this allergy season starting earlier and lasting longer. Some people experienced allergy symptoms for the first time ever while others experienced more severe symptoms than usual.

ISeeChangers from across the U.S. and in Italy reported an unusual spring allergy season. What has your allergy season been like, and do you have any tips or tricks for how to cope?

— ISeeChange Trends

Some bugs were abundant while others were missing

ISeeChangers in Ohio, Tennessee and Maryland reported visits from Brood X Cicadas beginning in mid-May.

First cicada sighting of the season. In my front yard.

— Anna Cash

Meanwhile, ISeeChangers in Oklahoma and New Hampshire reported seeing more ticks than they would usually expect this spring. 

Another cool day of off-and-on rain. It looks like spring and feels like fall. Mosquitoes are plentiful, and it looks like nothing but rain in the forecast for the next week plus.

— Clint Stone

Bees, on the other hand, were missing in Washington and New Hampshire.

Hardly seeing any bees this spring. No honeybees, the odd bumblebee. #WorldBeeDay.

— Robin Salthouse

On to summer!

Summer is typically the season with the most extreme weather. Keep posting the weird weather and seasonal shifts that you are seeing in your neighborhood!

 

Cover photo by ISeeChanger Lauren Rodriguez.