I Hope You Like Winter In April

Some progress in getting rid of the snow in my St. Albans yard.
This first photo was taken a week ago Thursday -- on March 22.

It kind of feels like spring got here, sort of .

Temperatures got into the low 50s Thursday and we managed to get through a storm system that just had rain, not snow overnight. Much of the snow in the valleys has melted (though we definitely have more to go).

We turn the calendar over to April on Sunday. Ahhhh.. Spring. Right?

Um, no.

The weather pattern is now setting up so that we'll need our parkas and boots for awhile yet, and you can totally forget about spring blossoms anytime soon.

This state of affairs is true through most of the entire third to half of the nation, and it will probably continue into mid-month. I'm a bucket of spring cheer this morning, aren't I?

Already, the forces of winter's resurgence are gathering. Winter storm warnings are now in effect across much of North Dakota, a good chunk of Minnesota and northern Wisconsin. It's really lovely in North Dakota, if for some reason you're planning a trip there.

In parts of that state, the temperatures were in the single digits this morning, it was windy with snow and blowing snow, and forecasts indicate North Dakota will remain continuously below freezing at least for a week, likely more.

It won't end up being as bad as that here in Vermont as we head into April, but it will be bad enough. I hope you didn't put away your snow shovel, for example.

...and this photo was taken in the same place, a week later - yesterday March 29.
Still a ways to go, though 

There looks to be several outbreaks of Arctic air coming into the northern Plains over the next week or two, and each of them will spread east toward us.

Obviously, these Arctic blasts won't be as intense as they are in January, but you can see why it will stay so cold in the Northern Plains, with some nights getting below zero out there.

In Vermont, it will remain relatively mild today and Saturday. Nothing super warm, but definitely tolerable for this time of year. (Highs in the 40s to around 50 both days.)

The first in a series of cold fronts and chilly storms will come through Saturday night. Easter Sunday looks rather unpleasant, I'm afraid. There might be some snow showers around, especially early in the day. There will be a cold northwest wind and temperatures for most of us will remain at or below 40 degrees during the day.

A stronger system looks like it wants to come in Tuesday into Wednesday. At this point, it looks like it will be mostly rain here in Vermont, but it will be close. We could get surprised by some snow with this. I'll just cross my fingers and say rain for now.

On Wednesday, a cold front that really means business will sweep through, keeping us definitely cold.

Beyond that, it's hard to tease out the strength, position, temperature and moisture content of fast moving cold fronts and storms that will come through into mid-Apri.

It's spring, so there might be brief attempts by warm air to come in during that time before being slapped down by repeated cold fronts.  It will snow during the first half of April here in Vermont, but right now it's impossible to tell if it will be a little or a lot.

Just don't plan on picking any daffodils for awhile. Remember, though. Spring WILL get here.

Eventually.