According to weather folklore, a stormy March that comes roaring in will meekly leave with sunshine and warm weather. Unfortunately, this year’s March entered like a lion, teased us with some nice temperatures and then reverted back to a snowy, stormy lion before stalking out.
Look at the forecasts for the last week of March – snowstorms in the Great Plains and Midwest, thunderstorms, hail and possible tornadoes in Texas and the South and rain, lots and lots of rain in Northern California and the Pacific Northwest. There is not a lamb in sight.
Still this is not all bad news. The South, particularly Texas needs the rain. Texas is in its worst drought in 44 years! It’s damaging the state’s wheat crop and forcing ranchers to reduce their herds – just when the worldwide demand for meat and grain is increasing. Having rain, even a roaring thunderstorms is better than another week of dry weather.
The U.S. Climate Prediction Centers outlook for this week’s weather hazards
Similarly, having cold weather in the Midwest will slow the snowmelt. While many people are really sick of the white (or, by now, dirty gray) stuff, scientists are worried about possible floods. There is a potential for record-breaking flooding in the Midwest and parts of the Mississippi. The slower the region warms up, the more time there is for the soil to absorb the moisture and the flooding to be reduced.
So think of the lion of March as a really ornery cat. It is independent and capricious. It is certainly not a house pet. But at least it didn’t decide to maul us. It just stormed, roared and moved on.
Evelyn Browning Garriss, historical climatologist, blogger, writer for The Old Farmer's Almanac, and editor of The Browning Newsletter [4], has advised farmers, businesses, and investors worldwide on upcoming climate events and their economic and social impact for the past 21 years.