While there are still some big snow banks left around much of southern Maine, the area is starting to have a look more like spring.  This is the month where the landscape undergoes a large shift from looking like winter to greening up. 

Some of the first signs of spring are likely in your garden.  Bulbs have begun peeking through the ground.  Tulips and daffodils are anywhere from an inch or two to several inches tall and will quickly gain height from this point forward.

April is a month where the temperature rises significantly.  During the first week of April temperatures often remain in the 40s.  By the time we get to the end of the month seeing afternoon highs in the 50s and even 60s is quite common. (graphs are for Portland)

The Atlantic Ocean plays a role in our weather every month of the year.   One of the most common ways the coastal influence shows up is in the form of sea breezes.  The water in the Gulf of Maine is in the 30s right now and will warm into the 40s this month.  The cold ocean acts as a refrigerator and keeps the air above it cooler than the air over the land.  The deeper into spring we move, the larger the difference grows between the air over the ocean and the air over land. 

During the early afternoon, as temperatures warm, the air over the land rises. This air is then replaced by air rushing in from the ocean and a sea breeze is born.  In Portland a wind coming anywhere from due east to almost due south brings a chilly flow.

Temperatures can often be 10 or even 20 degrees warmer in places like Sanford or Bridgton as compared to Portland, Wells or Brunswick in situations with a sea breeze.  This time of the year, if you are going to be at the coast, it’s a good idea to have a jacket handy just in case a sea breeze does kick in.

Nights continue to grow shorter in April with the amount of daylight increasing to over 14 hours by the end of the month.  As the light grows, plants respond.  The changes can be dramatic, seemingly occurring overnight.

 

April can also be frustrating.  After a long cold winter we all want spring warmth and sunshine.  While it does warm up in April, clouds and precipitation are also a part of the month.   If you divide sky conditions into categories of clear, partly cloudy, mostly cloudy and cloudy we find more time spent with cloudy skies than any other sky condition.  Each April can be radically different than the previous year.  Some Aprils are cold and wet while others warm and dry.

If one reviews years with cold winters and a cold March, the odds favor a cooler than normal April.   This doesn’t mean the next four weeks are going to be cold and wet, but it does indicate higher chance of chilly air.

You can follow my forecast and gardening tips on Twitter.  Just click here to follow @growingwisdom 

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