April showers is quite cliché, but it’s also often true.  After the snows of winter, April brings liquid precipitation and the opportunity for the landscape to begin greening again.   There are many predictable parts of April, some of them non-meteorological.  The Red Sox return to Fenway, taxes are due, the ice leaves the lakes and spring peepers begin their chorus of nightly singing.

On Sunday evening I heard one lone peeper beyond the backyard ever so slowly peeping away all alone.  I was thinking, I know why you’re singing, I just wondered if there was anyone listening.   My curiosity would be satisfied last evening when the sound of the peepers reached a feverish pitch and at least according to these little nocturnal frogs, spring has arrived.

There are two frontal systems crossing the region today.  As I write, the first one is bringing downpours and a slow morning commute.  My lawn was just beginning to dry out.  I did put down corn gluten last evening before the rain.  This is an organic way to help control crab grass.  I am just hoping the rain isn’t so heavy this morning that it washes away.

There is a flood watch for much of the eastern two-thirds of Maine, but this is mostly for urban and small stream issues.  The big rivers should stay mainly inside their banks.  Ice jams are a potential problem the National Weather Service will be monitoring.

This front will lift through the area this morning and then there will be many hours of just cloudy weather.  There could be a glimpse or two of sunshine and  if we see enough, a few spots southwest of Portland could actually hit 60 degrees.  However, it’s much more likely the 50s are as warm as we get.  

Late this afternoon or during the evening a cold front will push through.  This front doesn’t have as much energy as the morning warm front, but could still produce a few widely scattered showers.   These showers might not happen at all in your town and, if they do, won’t be anything nearly as heavy as this morning.

Behind the cold front it turns dry and cooler Wednesday.  There will be a bit of a breeze and temperatures in the upper 40s.  This cool air is typical for the first half of April.  Thursday brings more sunshine and milder air.  I am picking Thursday as the pick of the week.   After a day of drying some golf courses, especially in York County, should be looking quite good and this might be a chance to have your first outing of the season. 

Perhaps the grill was put away for the season back in October or November.  I actually grill all winter, but it’s not as frequent as the warmer months.    The sun won’t set until around 7:15 on Thursday making it a perfect evening to fire up the barbeque (or push the little red button), and enjoy an evening eating outside.  It won’t be super warm, but if you dress for it, spring can be a great time to eat outside.  The mosquitoes haven’t reached critical mass just yet.

Speaking of bugs, ticks are out in full force.   It’s important when you are raking leaves to check yourself very carefully when you come back inside.  Ticks love leaf litter and will have spent the winter all cozy under a nice blanket of oak leaves.   When they get a whiff of you going by they are going to try to hitch a ride.  There are other diseases, besides Lyme, that ticks carry, so be careful when working outside this spring.

Copy the Story Link