#SpringIntoScience with NOAA

When it’s spring in the Northern Hemisphere, NOAA is here to celebrate! From articles to graphics to educational resources, S-P-R-I-N-G into science with us!

A graphic of a spring day with rain drops, a wheelbarrow featuring the NOAA logo, rainbow, flowers, a leafy tree, rain boots, and an umbrella. Text: Spring into science.
Spring into science with NOAA! (Image credit: NOAA Education)
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Changing seasons, changing science

Diagram of the ocean that shows upwelling, a plankton bloom, sea ice, humpback whale migration. Read the narrative at www.noaa.gov/education/infographic/what-happens-in-ocean-in-springtime.
What's happening in the ocean in springtime?

From whale migration to phytoplankton blooms, how can you tell if spring has sprung in the sea?

Two people sit at a desk and concentrate on at least six monitors that are displaying different types of weather patterns and data.
The Spring Experiment

The NOAA Hazardous Weather Testbed fosters collaboration for researchers and NWS forecasters to test and evaluate emerging technologies and science.

A graphic of the Earth’s orbit around the sun. Meteorological seasons: Winter starts on Dec. 1, spring on Mar. 1, summer on June 1, and fall on Sept. 1. Astronomical seasons: Winter begins on the winter solstice (Dec. 21) when the North Pole is tilted to the max extent away from the sun, spring begins on the spring equinox (Mar. 20), summer begins on the summer solstice (June 21), when the North Pole is tilted to the max extent toward the sun, and fall begins on the autumnal equinox (Sept.21).
Changing seasons

March 1 marks the start of meteorological spring, but astronomical spring doesn't start until March 20. What’s the difference between the two?

What does spring have in store?

A plastic cylinder with an opening at the top to collect precipitation is mounted upright on a wooden post that stands alone in the sand dunes in front of a beach with crashing waves.
‘Rain Gauge Rally’ recruits new volunteers to measure rain and snow

Take part in a friendly competition to see which state can recruit the most new citizen scientists to record precipitation.

Seasonal temperature outlook for March, April, and May 2025.
Three-month outlooks: Official forecasts

Check out the seasonal temperature and precipitation outlooks for the U.S. through March, April, and May.

This curious groundhog isn't Punxsutawney Phil, but they sure are cute.
Groundhog Day 2025: Will winter linger? Or will spring prevail?

Will it be a “long and lustrous winter,” as Phil Connors, the main character in the 1993 movie Groundhog Day said? Or will spring make an early appearance?

Map of the timing of the arrival of 2025 spring 'leaf out' in the U.S.
First signs of spring make their way northward across the U.S.

While the first day of spring arrives on March 20, many places across the United States see their first signs of the season much sooner.

A groundhog raises its paw and squints its eyes in the bright sunlight.
Grading the groundhogs

In honor of Groundhog Day and in the spirit of fun, we pitted groundhogs from all over the United States against each other — and data from NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information — to see who’s the most accurate.

This map depicts where there is a greater than 50% chance of drought persistence, development or improvement based on short- and long-range statistical and dynamical forecasts from March 20 through June 30, 2025.
Spring Outlook: Warmer for most of U.S., wetter in the Southeast

Drought to develop or persist for Rocky Mountains, Southwest and southern Plains.

Spring weather and safety

Image showing a rip current using a harmless green dye
Spring into safety: Prepare for tornadoes, rip currents and more

Get ready for the change of seasons with safety tips, videos and infographics.

 
Infrared imagery via NOAA's GOES East (GOES-16) satellite shows a severe thunderstorm crossing several states in the U.S. Text: Earth From Orbit: Preparing for severe weather.
NOAA satellites help us prepare for severe weather

NOAA’s geostationary and polar-orbiting satellites monitor the changing weather patterns that come with the transition from winter to spring.

Image of girl with a shocked expression while reading a Wireless Emergency Alert on her mobile phone. Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) can alert you when weather threatens! WEAs are sent by government authorities to your mobile phone and are reserved for potentially life-threatening situations. Keep WEAs enabled on your phone. It could save your life or the lives of others!
Spring weather safety

Are you #WeatherReady for Spring? Check out the latest weather safety graphics, videos, social media posts, and more from the National Weather Service.

An orange and black graphic in the shape of an eyeball with a tornado-like funnel where the iris and pupil would be.
Become a SKYWARN® storm spotter!

As a volunteer storm spotter, you can help keep your local community safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service. Consider signing up today!
 

A stormy sky background with text overlaid: Know the difference between a severe thunderstorm watch and warning. Watch: Be prepared, severe weather is possible. Check for forecast updates, monitor sky conditions, and know where to take shelter. Warning: Take action, severe weather is imminent. Take shelter immediately, seek further information, and check for forecast updates. Be Weather Ready.
Video: What’s a watch vs. a warning?

What's a severe thunderstorm or tornado watch, and how is it different from a warning?

Celebrate Earth Day

A doodled graphic of the Earth with the text “Every day is Earth Day” on it. The Earth is surrounded by drawings of nature including a desert, tropics, tundra, marine and deep sea environments, mountains, forests, rivers, and hills.
Earth Day

How is NOAA addressing climate change, extreme weather, pollution and more? And how can you make a difference? Explore our Earth Day portal to find out! 

Graphic of a silhouette of a human with outlined lungs in front of backgrounds showing a forest and the ocean.
The Ocean We love

We love the ocean and we know you do too. Join Symone Johnson as she gives us a ninety second tour of our Earth Day collection.

A doodled graphic of the Earth with plastic trash forming the land masses. The Earth has the text “Planet vs. Plastics Earth Day 2024” on it.
Earth Day art to color, download, and share

Show your love for the planet with coloring pages, posters, and graphics for Earth Day.