How is this Spring going to treat us?

With the arrival of Spring we all start thinking about warmer weather and getting outside. It's a refreshing break from the months of cold air we have dealt with from the Fall and Winter. The question that always surfaces as we enter into Spring is how warm will it get? How wet might it be? Let's take a look at a few long range models and see what might be in store.

Before I get started let me just say. I am not a fan of long range models as in almost every case they never work out. However, you can get the sense of a trend from looking at the models from what they are predicting to how Spring weather has been in other parts of the world.

For the remainder of March we are looking at temperatures pretty much right on average. Highs' in the low to mid 60's and lows in the mid to upper 30's 

The remainder of March in terms of rainfall looks to be mainly dry as we are only expected to get around another inch of rain. This will put us well below our Monthly average of around four inches.

The month of April looks to keep us on pace for average spring like temperatures with highs in the low 70's with low temperatures in the mid to upper 40's

The April rainfall out look for April looks to be below normal which would not be a good start to the growing season. Long term models indicating only around an inch of rain the entire month compared tot he normal of around three and a half inches. 

May has an long term outlook for temperatures to be above normal. Average highs are usually in the upper 70's this May looks to be on track for high temps in the low to mid 80's. Low temperatures look to be in the low 60's when typically they are in the mid to upper 50's.

The May rainfall outlook is stacking up for a rebound from the dry April being forecasted. However, still looks to be pretty dry. Only around a half inch of rain in the long term forecast for May when we typically average just over three inches.

The last few days of Spring of course are in the month of June. Early indications for June look to be on average. Highs in the mid to upper 80's with lows in the mid to upper 60's. For rainfall the last few days of Spring look to be shaping with the very dry weather continuing. 

Overall Spring is looking to start f average with the temperatures and staying that way for the season. The precipitation chances are not looking good overall for the season. Again remember when I started off. I stated I do not like long range models but you can get a sense of the trend that is currently occurring and how the models may work out. So let's take a quick look at the trend.

To this point the average temperature for the year is 43.9 kind of middle of the pack for recorded history to this point in the year for the county. So pretty much what you could call an average year.

The rainfall totals for the year are currently at 5.08 inches for the year. Giving us the 5th driest year on record to this point. 

I certainly hope the trends change and the long term models are wrong. If not we are in for a very tough growing season here in the area. 

I will keep you updated as always. 

Thank you for following Rowan County Weather!