Get out the shorts.

Pull out the lawn chairs.

Throw around a few baseballs.

Spring is here.

Unofficially, that is.

Spring doesn’t officially begin until March 20, but if there was any doubt that it has Old Man Winter on the run there won’t be any left by Sunday.

The National Weather Service office at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport has a weekend on tap for Union County that will wipe out any doubts a change in the seasons is definitely on the way.

It all starts today (Saturday, March 6).

The NWS is forecasting plenty of sunshine today with a high temperature climbing into the upper 50s throughout Union County — even flirting with the 60-degree mark. One more night, it looks like, of sub-freezing lows is forecasted overnight tonight with a low in the upper 20s but that all changes late in the weekend.

Sunday looks to be even better with a high expected in the low to mid-60s under even more sunshine. Sunday night’s low will be just above freezing, forecasted to be right at 33 degrees.

Then comes Monday.

The first day of the new work week should be the best in the next three with a high temperature in the upper 60s to near 70 degrees under continued sun and blue skies with a few clouds possibly moving in late in the day and overnight. The low Monday night should only dip into the lower 40s.

Then the Upstate’s next rainmaker moves in Tuesday.

The GSP office is looking at a 30 percent chance for rain Tuesday under mostly cloudy skies. That moderate chance of precipitation sticks around for Wednesday and Thursday but it should all be in the form of rain — no white stuff to mention.

Despite the possible rainy conditions and clouds persisting through Thursday, high temperatures are expected to remain in the low 60s each day with lows only reaching down into the lower 40s overnight.

Let the spring cleaning commence.

SPRING CLEANING TIPS FROM STATE FARM INSURANCE:

The upcoming warm up in the forecast also will provide a good time to do some spring cleaning. Here are a few tips to keep in mind while doing yours at home:

• Replace your furnace filter.

• Clean the kitchen exhaust hood and air filter.

• Check your electrical system.

• Always have a multi-purpose fire extinguisher accessible.

• Make sure the light bulbs in all your fixtures are the correct wattage.

• Review your fire escape plan with your family.

• Consider installing a lightning protection system on your home.

• Protect all your electrical appliances from power surges and lightning.

• Have a professional air conditioning contractor inspect and maintain your system as recommended by the manufacturer.

• Check for damage to your roof.

• Run through a severe weather drill with your family.

• Repair all cracked, broken or uneven driveways and walks to help provide a level walking surface.

• Protect your home from sewer or drain back-up losses.

• Check all the fascia and trim for deterioration.

• Check your water heater.

• Check the shutoff valve at each plumbing fixture to make sure they function.

• Clean clothes dryer exhaust duct, damper and space under the dryer.

• Replace all extension cords that have become brittle, worn or damaged.

• Inspect and clean dust from the covers of your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

For more information, visit the State Farm Web site at www.statefarm.com.

LAWN WORK:

Spring also means it’s again time to start working in and on the lawn and yard. Here are a few lawn care suggestions from the Clemson University Extension’s “Carolina Yardstick Workbook” to keep in mind whenever you are making changes or doing spring work:

• Determine your soil pH.

• Reduce the need for water, fertilizer, pesticides and pruning by using plants suited to the site conditions in your yard.

• Group plants according to their maintenance needs. For example, group drought-tolerant plants with low-water needs separately from lawn areas.

• Determine how much grass you need for children, pets and recreation. Use low-maintenance ground covers, shrubs, mulch or other porous surfaces where possible.

• Save energy by using trees and shrubs to shade the air conditioner compressor and eastern and western walls of your home.

• Use deciduous trees or shrubs on southern exposures to allow sun to passively heat your home in the winter.

• Help stop the spread of invasive exotic plants like kudzu by removing them from your yard. Contact the Department of Plant Industry office for more information in invasive plants.

• Reduce yard waste by choosing plants that will not require frequent pruning when they reach maturity.

• Preserve native plants, especially trees, when building on a new site. Maintain a protective “do not disturb” barrier under the dripline of trees.

For more information, contact your county’s extension office or visit the Clemson University Extension online at www.clemson.edu/extension.

SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY RULES:

Severe Weather Awareness Week in the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia was observed March 1-5. Spring and summer are favored times of the year for severe weather — including damaging thunderstorms and tornadoes because of the unstable conditions in the atmosphere. Here are a few safety rules from the National Weather Service to keep in mind when dealing with severe weather:

• Be sure you have an all-hazards weather radio with an alarm. The National Weather Service activates these alarms for severe weather, civil emergencies and national emergencies that affect the local area.

• When thunderstorms are approaching, move to a sturdy building or car. Do not take shelter in small sheds, under isolated trees or in convertible automobiles.

• If lightning is occurring and a sturdy shelter is not available, get inside a hard-top automobile and keep the windows up. Get out of the way of boats and away from water.

• Telephone lines and metal pipes can conduct electricity. Unplug appliances not necessary for obtaining weather information. Avoid using the telephone, except in emergencies.

• If caught outside, find a low spot away from trees, fences and poles. Stay away from open areas like soccer fields, baseball diamonds and, especially, golf course.

• During a tornado, move to an interior room or hallway on the lowest floor and get under a sturdy piece of furniture if possible. Stay away from windows. Get out of automobiles and into a ditch or depression. Leave a mobile home and get into a reinforced building.

• During flash flooding, never drive your car into areas where water covers the road. Many people are killed this way each year. Turn around, don’t drown.

The NWS says these simple safety rules can save your life during a severe weather situation. For more severe weather information, visit the National Weather Service’s Web site at www.weather.gov.