Weather Words: False Spring

This segment originally appeared in today's edition of the Morning Brief newsletter. Sign up here to get weekday updates from The Weather Channel and our meteorologists.

Just when you think it’s time to pack away the heavy coats and welcome warmer days, False Spring arrives to fool us all. This weather phenomenon refers to an unseasonably warm stretch in late winter or early spring that tricks plants, animals, and even people into thinking winter is over—only for the cold to come roaring back.

These unexpected warm spells can be deceiving. Trees may start budding, flowers might bloom, and some animals come out of hibernation too early. People rush to swap winter clothes for t-shirts, only to be caught off guard when another cold snap hits. False spring can have real consequences, too. If fruit trees blossom too soon, a late freeze can damage crops, impacting farmers and gardeners.

So before you trust that first stretch of warmth, remember—just because the sun is shining and temperatures are warming doesn’t mean winter is done!

J​ennifer Gray is a weather and climate writer for weather.com. She has been covering some of the world's biggest weather and climate stories for the last two decades.