Good Question: 'Reply All' To Spring Questions

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Tuesday ushered in the first day of spring, and after breaking high temperature records in the Twin Cities eight out of the last 11 days, a lot of Minnesotans are wondering: What's up?

So, we are hitting "reply all" to your spring Good Questions.

Heather from New Germany is one of many wondering about mosquitos. She asked, "What does this warm stretch mean for mosquitos?"

Mike McLean is the Public Information Officer from the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District.

"Bugs are a part of summer and when summer comes early, so do the bugs," McLean said.

The office has already spotted them, but it says so far the dry weather has saved us. There aren't many places mosquitos can develop. So, while there may be some mosquitos now that doesn't necessarily mean we'll see more.

The Mosquito Control folks did say that ticks are already on the move this year. So, if you're out in the woods you'll want to check yourself when you get home.

On Facebook, Christie asked, "What does this extremely warm spring mean for the summer? Are we in for an even hotter one than last year?

We took the question to Greg Spoden a climatologist with the Department of Natural Resources.

"In terms of temperatures in terms of the weather, a warm March offers up no information as to what will happen in the summer that follows," Spoden said.

Spoden said we've seen it all after warm springs, warm and cold summers, dry and wet ones. The only thing he can say, after this March we'll likely see a warmer April since the snow is long gone.

He also said when it comes to smashing so many records we also shouldn't read too much into that, either.

"It's just Mother Nature completely rearranging her trophy case right now," Spoden said.

Annette on Facebook wants to know, "when we smell rain, what are we actually smelling?"

Scientists believe what people are really smelling is high humidity. That moisture makes plants release aromas and our noses work better in moist air, so we notice.

After it rains, you're smelling soil. Rain disturbs the gas in the ground and frees the scent.