On Friday, Feb. 2, groundhog Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow. This indicates that spring should be approaching soon. However, since Phil’s prediction, the Midwest has experienced a mixed range of weather. Just this week, an unexpected heatwave struck Lake Forest with temperatures up to sixty-five degrees. In the following few days, the temperature had dropped nearly twenty degrees and rain was abundant. So, what can we expect to see in the approaching months?

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), below-freezing winter conditions have passed. Additionally, meteorologists predict that there will no longer be the potential for icy precipitation or winter storms.

The NOAA has published several charts of the United States, called “monthly climate outlooks”, that shows the probability that the weather will follow previous years’ patterns. As seen in these maps, precipitation in the midwest in upcoming weeks has equal chances of occurring or not. Temperatures in the midwest are also predicted to be 40-50% higher than in past years, something many Lake Forest residents may be ecstatic to hear.

Most LFHS students are rooting for a faster approach to warmer temperatures as weather impacts students’ mental health. Junior Leila Ayyad says the moods of those around her “have been impaired by the cold weather.”

“Over the past month or so, whenever there have been warm days people tend to be in happier states. I’m hoping that after spring break, the weather will remain sunny and stay within a sixty-degree range,” Ayyad said.

Yet, students still have hope for warmer weather.

“I’m hoping that in the next month, the weather here will be hot and sunny with no wind; it will remind me of back home in Florida,” senior Gavin Williams said.

As we all know, the weather tends to be very unpredictable, so only time will tell what late March and early April holds in store for us Midwesterners.