Mobile Home Sales in Cool Spring, SC

GREENVILLE, S.C. —

As we gear up for the possibility of record-breaking high temperatures on Thursday, you may be wondering if this means an early spring or is this what is commonly known as a “fake spring” for the Carolinas?

(More on those possible record breaking highs in the video above)

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Well, to answer that question, we have to look at current weather trends and, more importantly, where those trends are heading.

Right now, we are in a La Nina weather pattern, which for the southeast typically means warmer and dryer than average.

But we are starting a transition to a “neutral” weather pattern that should take hold completely by April through the early summer. This type of pattern doesn’t see a trend one way or the other, but there are hints of an El Nino weather pattern emerging for late summer, which is usually hotter and wetter than average, but that remains to be seen.

As we watch the infamous cherry blossom indicator tree in Washington, D.C., start blooming weeks earlier than normal, there are certainly signs that spring is trying for an early start.

Pollen counts have been abnormally high throughout the Carolinas, and there’s no sign of that changing to much in the coming week.

Got allergies? SC doctors say allergy season came early, and could last longer than normal

The Climate Prediction Center, which looks at weather trends around the world, has our area warmer and perhaps slightly wetter than average through June. There is less certainty for July through August regarding rainfall, but seem to swing much warmer than average heading into the end of summer.

So, as we circle back to answer the original question of, “Are we having an early spring”? The answer is yes, but that doesn’t mean we won’t see cold snaps or big cool downs between now and when spring officially begins on March 20.

After all, the average high this time of year is still in the 50s, and there are no indicators to show we won’t see cooler days ahead from time to time.

On Thursday, a plump Punxsutawney Phil made his annual Groundhog Day appearance in front of hundreds of adoring fans to furrcast six more weeks of winter. It’s not exactly a bold prediction for the oversized squirrel: He has predicted a longer winter 78 percent of the time in his career. But you don’t need Phil, arguably the most famous “weather-forecasting” groundhog, to predict when the next season will arrive this year. (Also, he’s only right about 40 percent of the time.)

In many areas around the country, people can already see signs that spring is ahead of schedule. The arrival of these signals vary around the country, but the onset of warmer winter temperatures can push the development of plants and animals sooner in the season than normal.

The South typically experiences spring earlier than other regions, but even this year’s season is “20 to 25 days early” there, said Alyssa Rosemartin, an ecologist with the USA National Phenology Network, which tracks plant and animal observations through citizen scientists. “It’s never been that early before, so it is remarkable.”

Western Texas, southern Arkansas, southern Louisiana and eastern Mississippi are all experiencing their earliest spring in 40 years of records from the phenology network, although growth has slowed with a recent cold spell. Spring in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina arrived 1-2 weeks earlier than average.

In southern Louisiana, early signs of spring include flowering American elms, leaves sprouting from herbaceous thistles and a surge of pollen from bald cypress trees, said Julie Whitbeck, an ecologist at Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. There and across the Gulf Coast, red maples have begun to bloom, with helicopter-like fruit decorating their branches with crimson.

Other places are also experiencing early springlike flourish, according to the phenology network. Red alder trees began budding in Oregon and British Columbia in January, its earliest appearance in 14 years of records. Tulip trees in Indiana are flowering more than a month ahead of schedule. Forsythias are breaking leaf buds in Maine, an event that hasn’t been observed on record before March. Quaking aspen trees in Minnesota are producing flower buds, which typically isn’t seen until mid-February to mid-April.

Data suggest these spring signals are the result of consistently mild temperatures since a pre-Christmas intrusion of Arctic air across the country. Many locations east of the Rockies experienced their warmest January on record, according to the Southeast Regional Climate Center. Average temperatures as much as 6 to 10 degrees above normal set records from McAllen, Tex., on the Rio Grande to Houlton, Maine, on the Canadian border.

Those extra degrees make a big difference for some plants and animals.

Heat accumulation is one of the main ways to predict life cycle transitions in plants and animals, according to the phenology network. Many plants and animals need to experience a certain level of sustained warmth to trigger budding or egg hatching, which researchers measure using “growing degree days.” Growing degree days essentially measure the warmth needed to allow an organism to grow.

For an early spring to arrive, it would mean the plants and animals experienced more warmth than usual, more quickly achieving their required number of growing days.

On the other hand, cooler temperatures could push back the development of plants and animals, as seen in California and Arizona, which are lagging about a week later than normal.

It’s not just plants responding to the early warmth — some animals are also already declaring an early spring. Gina Lloyd, citizen science coordinator at the Barataria Preserve south of New Orleans, said she began to hear the chorus of calls from frogs known as spring peepers in late January — sounds that denote the beginning of their breeding season and are associated with heavy spring rains.

“I’ve been seeing a lot more frogs than I usually do in January,” Lloyd said. Snakes, too.

This year’s early spring signs follow a larger warming trend in recent decades. Analysis shows winters are warming faster than any other season in the United States. Over the past 50 years, average winter temperatures have warmed by at least one degree Fahrenheit in every state; 70 percent have seen increases of at least three degrees. The length of winter is also shrinking across the globe, studies show.

“Climate change is increasing the chances of everything related to this: of warmer winters, of shorter winters, of earlier springs,” Rosemartin said.

(Side note: Phil should probably incorporate these climate findings moving forward. Based on Phil’s past predictions since 1887, he is more likely to predict a longer winter — forecasting an early spring only 15 percent of the time.)

Early plant growth and active animals could be vulnerable to bouts of severe weather in the winter season.

This winter, many of the same areas along the Gulf Coast where early spring emerged were rocked by severe January thunderstorms, which are much more common in March and April. The storms — fueled by abnormally warm gulf waters — spawned destructive and deadly tornadoes. The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center received 124 preliminary tornado reports last month, mostly in the South. The average January number is closer to 50.

Rosemartin said it’s possible that such destructive storms could bring more damage to budding plant tissues or branches that would otherwise still be dormant.

Still, research shows that while climate change is making winters warmer overall, intense cold snaps are still possible and winter could still bring frosty weather. Meteorological winter continues through the end of February in the Northern Hemisphere, and wintry weather can often occur even into March and April, when meteorological spring begins.

The first measurable snowfall of the season was observed early Wednesday along the Interstate 95 corridor, ahead of a brutal blast of cold expected in the Northeast on Friday and Saturday. In the southern United States, an intrusion of cold air is driving icy weather.

In Texas, winter storm and ice storm warnings covered most of the state on Wednesday, and temperatures were expected to remain below freezing for up to four days. It might not be clear until spring arrives in earnest what, if any, damage that might cause to early plant growth, said Courtney Blevins, Fort Worth regional forester for the Texas Forest Service.

“We don’t usually stay below freezing for more than a day or two,” he said. In past years, freezes have devastated crops that bud early in the South, driving fruit prices up.

In areas where mild January temperatures have kept the ground from freezing, that has allowed water to soak into soil and provide a growth signal for trees, Whitbeck said. It could also help protect those ecosystems from future cold snaps, she added. It takes longer to heat and cool hydrated soil than it does dry soil, so any drop in temperatures would need to be particularly harsh or lasting to freeze saturated ground.

In southern Louisiana, for example, there’s still a risk that such a harsh freeze could materialize. “The first three weeks of February are still fair game for a hard freeze,” Whitbeck said.

Even though there are signs of spring, winter may still bring some frosty weather. That’s a lot of nuance for a groundhog to predict.

So much for winter.

Spring is just around the corner for South Carolina, with the official start of the season set for March 20 in the northern hemisphere this year. Soon trees and flowers will begin to bloom, some animals will emerge from hibernation and for many residents, the inevitable spring cleaning will start.

But after months of a fairly standard winter, what kind of weather can the Palmetto State expect for spring this year?

According to the Farmer’s Almanac, plan for rain — lots of it.

The Farmer’s Almanac predicts near normal temperatures, but “tons of showers” in South Carolina this spring. There should also be frequent heavy-to-severe thunderstorms in South Carolina and the rest of the Southeast.

Overall, the Farmer’s Almanac expects a wet spring with relatively cool temperatures for most places in the U.S., the exception being the Southwest, where temperatures should rise quickly.

The extended forecast from Farmer’s Almanac says to expect rain and showers on March 20, followed by more showers across the Carolinas the following week.

Expect scattered showers in early April. However, Farmer’s Almanac notes that the weather should be dry and pleasant for Easter on April 9 and for much of the Masters Tournament in nearby Augusta, which will run from April 6-9 this year.

South Carolina should see continued showers and thunderstorms through much of May.

Founded in 1818, the Farmers’ Almanac uses a secret formula that includes components such as “sunspot activity, tidal action, the position of the planet,” to predict long-range weather forecasts. The forecasts are typically made two years in advance. Fans of the Farmers’ Almanac have, over the years, calculated that the predictions are accurate 80-85% of the time.

The National Weather Service currently has a somewhat different spring outlook for South Carolina than what Farmer’s Almanac predicts.

According to the NWS Climate Prediction Center, South Carolina has a 40% to 50% chance of above average temperatures in March and April. The NWS also predicts equal chances of above or below average rainfall for the state in March and April.

Looking for a place to cool off in Spartanburg, SC? Once it gets to be summer in Spartanburg, it’s time to find the nearest place to cool off.

That’s why we have created this list of splash pads that are in Spartanburg, plus a few bonus spots to head to this summer.

Splash Pads in Spartanburg, SC

Splash pads are usually open from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Please confirm they are in working order before heading out, as splash pads are high maintenance features.

Stewart Park

453 Beacon Street, SpartanburgOpen Memorial Day-Labor Day (9 am – 7 pm)This park not only includes a splash pad, but also has two outdoor basketball courts, a walking trail, a covered picnic area, a walking trail, and a playground.

Barnet Park

248 East Saint John Street, SpartanburgOpen Memorial Day-Labor Day (9 am – 7 pm)Located in the heart of downtown Spartanburg, this park with a splash pad is an ideal location for grabbing a bite to eat or playing a round of free mini-golf while you’re in Downtown Spartanburg.

Tyger River Park

195 Dillard Road, DuncanOpen Memorial Day-Labor Day This massive park boasts several play structures, ball fields, tennis courts, and disc golf- this list keeps going! The important piece of information you need to know for this summer: they have a splash pad! Be sure to bring plenty of sunscreen, as the splash pad is not in a shaded area.

McKinney Park

231 E. Hayne Street, WoodruffOpen Memorial Day-Labor DayThis is another great park to check out that has a splash pad. Covered picnic areas, a playground, and ball fields make for a fun day out in the sun, with the benefit of water play!

Airport Park

500 Ammons Road, SpartanburgOpen Memorial Day-Labor Day (9 am – )This park is aviation-themed, making it even more fun. It includes a walking trail, athletic fields, a playground, a picnic area, and a splash pad! Be sure to read a local mom’s review of this great park!

Water Parks in Spartanburg

Shipwreck Cove

119 S. Spencer Street, Duncan Opening for the season Memorial Day Weekend 2022!Shipwreck Cove is a great place to cool off and have fun this summer. A water slide, a huge pool, a lazy river, and a splash pad area for the little ones make up this fun water park. Park hours and admission prices can be found on their website.

More Places to Swim and Splash in Upstate, SC

Check out the Guide To Places For Splashing Around in Greenville, SC for more summer fun.

A Cool Springs former certified nursing assistant, nursing home helper and farm lady was named the 42nd Horry Electric Cooperative’s Rural Lady of the Year at a luncheon Friday.

Sarah Dixon said handling all of those jobs while tending to her farming chores wasn’t a problem for her.

“I’ve always been an energetic person,” she said.

She worked for two years and three months at the Conway Nursing Center.

“I loved it,” she said. “I always loved working with the patients.”

Next she went to Conway Hospital where she worked until her retirement and was known as the singing CNA. Her favorite song she used to sing patients to sleep was Amazing Grace.

She loved that job, too, because she likes helping everybody.

She said she always tells everybody how good the Lord is, “cause He is good,” she said.

Mrs. Dixon isn’t the first person in her family to receive the Rural Lady of the Year award. Annie Ruth Dixon, who got the award in 1995, died in December, she said.

Accolades were flowing for Mrs. Dixon, beginning with new HEC vice president and CEO Daniel B. Shelley III, who said she has been a member of Horry Electric Cooperative for 38 years and is very involved in her family’s farm where they grow about 100 acres of tobacco, followed closely by 95 acres of sweet potatoes. They also grow soybeans and corn and raise cows.

Shelley said Dixon drags tobacco, cooks, fills water coolers and keeps the family’s books. He described her as caring and kind.

When her mother and mother-in-law were sick, she added taking care of them to her long list of duties.

She is active in her church, St. Peter African Methodist Episcopal, where she is president of the choir.

She is married to Warren Dixon. They have two children and five grandchildren.

Mrs. Dixon clutched her award saying, “I will hold this dear to my heart.”

She said her goal is always to help someone, and she hopes “to do that right on and right on.”

In addition to her plaque from Horry Electric, The Rural Lady of the Year received a citation from S.C. Senator Kent Williams, Dist. 30, and S.C. Rep. Jeff Johnson, House Seat 58.

Williams said Mrs. Dixon was definitely the matriarch of her family.

“There are not many minority farmers left, not many farmers, but especially minorities, so that says a lot about this family. They’re a great team,” the Senator said.

He said she loves people and believes in service.

“She’s a strong woman of faith. She believes in her faith,” he said.

Johnson said helping farmers has been a highlight of his career as a legislator.

He categorized farmers as the backbone of this country, saying people must have food. He said he also likes to celebrate women.

Speaker for the day was Miss S.C. Morgan Nichols, a Clemson University graduate, who sang Stand by Me for the large group assembled in the Horry Electric Cooperative auditorium.

Her comments focused on the importance of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education, and she encouraged women especially to choose that field for their careers.