Name: First blooms and leaves: How does weather affect them?
Uploaded: 2026-03-27T17:20:01.069Z
Duration: 1 min 5 s
Description: Some parts of the country are seeing earlier than average blooms and leaves on trees, and the weather has a part to play in this. The Southwest and Southeast, in particular, have seen large impacts. Meteorologist Rob Shackelford breaks down what is the main factor in what makes leaves and blooms earlier than normal and what may make them later.

Some parts of the country are seeing earlier than average blooms and leaves on trees, and the weather has a part to play in this. The Southwest and Southeast, in particular, have seen large impacts. Meteorologist Rob Shackelford breaks down what is the main factor in what makes leaves and blooms earlier than normal and what may make them later.

Recent weather conditions have significantly affected the timing of blooms and leaves on trees across the United States. A mild winter, especially in the West, has led to earlier than average flowering and leafing in many areas, as shown by widespread red zones on weather maps. 

Conversely, ongoing drought in the South has delayed leaf development, despite warm temperatures. This is evidenced by blue regions on the maps, where drought and later leaf growth overlap, highlighting the complex relationship between temperature, precipitation, and plant development.

First blooms and leaves: How does weather affect them?

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