What’s A False Spring?
Spoiler alert: It’s scary.
Spring has sprung — way too early. And it’s springing up earlier and earlier each year. On average, spring in North America now arrives three days earlier than it did in 1980. This year, it kicked off in late February — three weeks ahead of schedule.
As the climate changes, false springs — periods of unusually early warming — are becoming increasingly normal. And while the nice weather is a fun respite, false springs are nothing to celebrate: The implications of these higher temperatures cause ripples throughout the planet’s ecosystems, negatively affecting the life cycles of both plants and animals.
So before you break out your best floral fashions, let’s take a deep dive into what a false spring is and how it affects the Earth.
What is a false spring?
A false spring is a period in late winter or early spring during which the weather is warm enough to deceive vegetation, causing plants and animals to awaken early from dormancy.
The longer a false spring lasts, the higher the likelihood of plants being lulled into a false sense of security, causing them to bud and bloom. This is tricky, because winter warm spells are often followed by periods of freezing temperatures. When this happens, the plants can die…
