Is it spring already?

The average temperature in Liepāja has been above zero for eleven days now, reaching +4..+5 degrees Celsius on some days. That corresponds to the usual temperatures of late March and early April.

While the first greylags and wild geese were observed by Nīca this week. It is the birds' earliest return from wintering ever recorded.

The first grass fire was also recorded this week in Ķekava though it was put out before firefighters could spray it with water, which wouldn't turn into ice as we've just established it's practically spring.

Ice has broken on the Ogre river for three times now, forming buildups across the river.

Ogre is one of the most often flooded cities (there's both a river and a city called Ogre) in Latvia, however it is not in danger of flooding this year.

Photo: Ogre.lv

Some people have already started boating in the Amata river - called 'the only mountain river in Latvia' - though the Fire and Rescue Department is quick to warn that it's still dangerous as build-ups of ice are still common across the river.

"First spring - and a party - in Amata today," tweets one user.

Confused plants, unsure what season it is, for how long they've slept etc. are also seen waking up as one Tweeter observed a sea sandwort taking the risk of sprouting early at the Klapkalnciems seashore. 

Long-term forecasts say there'll be no lasting freeze and snow until mid-February, however on some nights temperatures will plunge below zero again. 

It's also unlikely that winter will return in February and March, forecaster at the Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre Laura Krūmiņa told Latvian Radio Thursday.