NATCHEZ — Despite a few harsh cold snaps so far this winter, the ice storms and snow of 2014 do not seem to be on the calendar this year.

In fact, it’s possible that spring is coming early, some weather watchers predict.

The National Weather Service has been monitoring what is a weak El Niño pattern, Meteorologist David Cox said.

El Niño years bring moisture in from the Pacific Ocean that can aid in any potential for winter weather. Because this has been a weak El Niño year, there is less potential for harsh winter weather. Because of the weak El Niño year and the lack of blocking patterns, the weather service does not anticipate severe winter weather for the area.

A high-pressure blocking pattern in parts of the Atlantic is what caused the ice and snow storms Natchez experienced last year, Cox said. This year, there are no blocking patterns coming toward the area so the cold air masses that do reach Natchez will not last for an extended period of time.

Despite the weak El Niño year, Dick Thompson, owner of Live Oak Nursery, says the winter season so far has been harsh on agriculture and plants.

“Early freezes in October (and throughout the winter season) have been devastating on the health of the plants and on outside work,” Thompson said.

But warm temperatures are expected for the next couple of days. Then, as the cold air masses come in from the northeast, the temperatures will drop to the upper 40s and low 50s.

Although the next few weeks will be chilly, Thompson said it looks like the area will have an early spring.

“The red maples are in full bloom, and I see the buds on some of the other hard woods which means we will have an early spring,” Thompson said.

Tom Smith, of Fred’s Nursery, however, is not counting on spring coming early.

Smith uses historical data to predict the weather, and based on last year’s ice storms and snow, he is working under the assumption that it will be a cold winter through February and the beginning of March.