On Monday, the National Weather Service had some bad news for people like me, who have gone ahead and cleaned their car believing the winter’s snow had left us and it was time to wash away the salt crust.

The winter’s snow was over, indeed, but we were possibly to face the first snow of the spring on Tuesday.

A four-in-five chance, and little or no accumulation expected, but motorists with clean rides were still facing the unwelcome prospect of briny roads, just when they thought the next visit to the carwash would be after spring, when trees had expended their pollen and it was safe to restore their car from yellow to its original color.

But despite the lingering cold weather and wrenches thrown into the works, spring is here, and warmer weather just around the corner.

Since it has been so cold this winter, and the cold won’t seem to leave us for long, when it does finally warm up properly, the new season is going to be so much sweeter.

In line with the rising temps, Suffolk’s events calendar is beginning to show more signs of life.

On Saturday, for instance, though it was probably a little chillier than organizers had hoped, there was the Hidden Treasures appraisal show (albeit indoors), the America Rocks 3K, a nature walk in the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and more.

It won’t be long until the city’s TGIF Summer Concert Series will be back, giving families an excuse at the end of the week to unfurl the blanket on the grass, listen to some music, and enjoy the fact that their extremities aren’t turning blue and it isn’t snowing.

Many events starting to surface in the calendar are in support of worthy causes, so it’s also the time of year to do good — and have fun while doing it.

For example, the March of Dimes’ March for Babies, at Constant’s Wharf on April 26, is a great opportunity to enjoy what we hope will be a nice, bright day outdoors, supporting premature babies at the same time.

That same day, the American Diabetes Association will be holding its Tour de Cure bike rides, leaving from and returning to King’s Fork High School’s parking lot, in support of diabetes research and support.

The Relay For Life, against cancer, will be held at Bennett’s Creek Park on May 16 — another chance to make a positive impact in the community whilst simply enjoying (… by then, surely…) a distinct lack of snow.

Yes, we’ve had our fair share of snow this year — too much snow — but the light does not exist without the darkness.