NIU meteorologist Gilbert Sebenste said spring is expected to come unusually late this year and he doesn’t need a groundhog to prove it.

“Back in November and December, we had basically all of Canada, Northern Europe and Asia get completely covered in snow,” he said. “At that point, we knew there was a very good chance that the winter would be backloaded. Basically, the back half of winter–from mid-January through March–would be colder and snowier than average. Obviously, that has come true.”

Sebenste said the cold air mass in the northern hemisphere was so large and heavy, it drifted south into North America.

“The cold air built up in the Arctic and Polar regions and has been able to come down to us through Arctic and Polar jet streams,” he said. “The first day of spring this year, with a high of 22 and a wind chill of 0, was definitely one of the coldest first days of spring I’ve seen.”

Sebenste said Wednesday’s temperature of 22 degrees was 24 degrees lower than the average temperature on that day. Though difficult to predict the exact weather for the rest of the year, Sebenste said things should start to warm up sometime after the first week in April. He also said to expect more heavy rain and thunderstorms at this time.

Junior psychology major Ariel Basham is looking forward to the weather warming up.

“It’s cold,” she said. “It’s cold and I think it’s still going to be cold for awhile. I just don’t want it to snow again.”

According to the “in like a lion, out like a lamb” way people sometimes describe March, the majority of the snow happens in the beginning of the month, but Sebenste said to expect something different this year.

“Typically, we get a lot of snow storms, a lot of cold rain and wind at the beginning of the month,” he said. “Toward the end of the month, as we transition into spring, the cold air leaves, things get warmer, and we get more sunshine. That’s what is supposed to happen, but it’s not happening this year.”

Sebenste said the unpredictable weather patterns have affected humans, who have higher heating bills because of the cold and experience an extended cold and flu season. Overall, he said, people are grumpier when it’s cold for so long.

People are grumpier because of the cold, and the fact that their spring break was so cold. Sophomore music major Daniel Baker is anticipating the warm weather.

“It’s very cold, a lot colder than last year,” Baker said. “I’d like to see it warm up soon. We just got back from spring break but it feels like it was winter break.”

Freshman psychology major Tajada Ford has also been affected by the weather.

“It’s extremely cold, and I’m not used to the cold weather,” she said. “When it’s cold I won’t go outside as much, I’ll just stay in my room more.”

Sebenste said this attitude is common when cold weather lasts so long.

“Last year’s March was a record warm March by a mile, and this year it’s going to be one of the coldest Marches by a mile,” he said. “We got our 80-90 degree days in last year, and now we’re paying for it.”