Weather & Science
Spring Temperature Whiplash Is Getting Worse With Climate Change
Abrupt jumps from chilly to warm and back again are typical of the season but becoming more extreme in a warming world.
Snow piles linger on a warm spring day at the Boston Common, on March 9, 2026.
Photographer: Boston Globe/Boston GlobeDramatic temperature jumps marked this March and April in the US Northeast, making it hard to know what to dress for: chilly or sweltering conditions? Researchers have concluded that wild temperature swings are becoming more common as the world heats up.
That’s changing how we experience spring, with plants blooming sooner and consumers rushing to buy more warm-weather goods earlier in the year.