How Long Do April Showers Last

The proverb "March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers", first recorded in 1886, [2] and the shorter, trochaic version "April showers bring May flowers" (originally "Sweet April showers/Do spring May flowers", part of a poem recorded in 1610 [3]) are common expressions in English speaking countries. There is the common adage "April showers bring May flowers". Apparently, Mother Nature utilized a rather liberal definition of "showers" last weekend and the end of last week by dumping over seven inches of rain in southern Indiana.

This has pushed the 30-day percent of normal across most of the state over 200 percent - or double what is climatological normal for that period (Figure 1). Though showers are the "classic" weather, the month can bring almost anything from fog, hail, thunder, snow, biting cold frosts and drizzly days. What are we going to define as April showers? I don't think it is fair to restrict the definition to April, as a shower on March 31 isn't really any different to one on April 1.

April does have more showers than other months, regardless of where you are in the country. During the month of April, a band of strong winds, known as the jet stream, moves northwards. Why do we have April showers? April is a month in transition; the long, cold winter days start to wane, and the jet stream.

April's Showers Are A Joke Looking at the precipitation breakout by decade from the National Weather Service (NWS), we can get an idea of how rainfall totals have trended since 2000 by month. Looking at the data, April has only proven the old saying right four times in the last 24 years, Michigan's Snowiest Winters: A Look at Annual Totals Since 2000 Only in 2011, 2013, 2015, and. This results in warm land temperatures compared with sea temperatures, and so shower clouds develop preferentially over the warmer land.

So there is some truth to the weather lore that April showers bring May flowers, as April does tend to be a showery month, and the warmth of May soon follows bringing the familiar colours of the UK spring. However, since April is the first full month of astronomical spring (a season most of us associate with trees and flowers) and is also the rainiest month up to that point, the "April showers" reputation likely stuck. Do April Showers Really Bring May Flowers?

Ever wonder if the saying "April showers bring May flowers" is true? Three expert horticulturists reveal how spring rain impacts plant health, blooms, and soil. More Than Just Flowers: Uncovering the Five Secrets of America's April Rains The adage "April showers bring May flowers" is a well-worn proverb, deeply ingrained in the cultural lexicon of the United States. While its poetic charm conjures images of vibrant spring blooms, its literal interpretation points to a very real and significant meteorological trend: a notable increase in rainfall.