Flooding to threaten southeast China to Japan; Drought to persist in Southeast Asia

The three warmest months are by definition summer, the three coldest months are winter and the intervening gaps are spring and autumn. Spring, when defined in this manner, can start on different dates in different regions. In terms of complete months, in most north temperate zone locations, spring months are March, April and May, although differences exist from country to country.

Asia spring forecast: Flooding to threaten southeast China to Japan; Drought to persist in Southeast Asia

While much of Asia can expect dry and mild conditions, there will be areas of ongoing drought as well as the risk of flooding during the spring of 2016.

"The main players in Asia this spring will be the typical ones, including the monsoon and fluctuations in Indian Ocean water temperatures," according to AccuWeather Chief International Meteorologist Jason Nicholls.

In addition, El Niño may still have enough influence to factor into the western Pacific Typhoon season during the approach of summer.

El Niño is defined by above-average sea surface temperatures in eastern and central equatorial Pacific Ocean. These sea surface temperatures cycle from warm to cool, relative to average, over a several-year period.

Much of Asia can expect near to above-average temperatures this spring.

An exception, although not highly unusual, will be from northeastern China, eastern Mongolia and Russia's far east to northern Japan. Cold and snowy conditions may hang on during March and perhaps into early April in this area.

During much of this past winter, waters in the Indian Ocean have been warmer than average. This abnormal warmth is likely to continue well into the spring.

The warm water may help to spur tropical downpours earlier than usual in the western parts of Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as the southern parts of Myanmar and Thailand. - Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather