Chicago can expect a spring with warmer than usual weather, a meteorologist said. View Full Caption Shutterstock

CHICAGO — Spring in Chicago could sometimes feel like an extension of winter: cold, snowy and grey. But this year, we can look forward to a warmer than average, "good" spring, a meteorologist said.

The average temperature will be above normal, said AccuWeather meteorologist Paul Pastelok, and May could even see some days in the 80s. There will be less rain than usual, too, Pastelok said.

"The overall spring will feel quite mild once we get past the early March period," Pastelok said. There will be "some good recreation weather by the time we get to April and May."

The last week of February or first week of March could see some cold, but after that things will warm up, Pastelok said.

And summer weather could hit the city early, Pastelok said, with "summer heat" coming in May. The city could see days that are 80 degrees or warmer in late May, when temperatures are usually in the low to mid-70s, he said.

Temperatures at Lake Michigan shouldn't be as cold as they have been in the past, either, Pastelok said, and should "recover" faster.

It will be a "good mid- to late spring for you guys," Pastelok said.

If you're skeptical, here's a bit of good news: the Accuweather prediction for a mild winter was pretty spot-on so far.