Over the past two months, we have seen some dramatic weather extremes across the Carolinas. Last month, the Charlotte area experienced the warmest February on record with an average temperature of 54.5 degrees.
March, on the other hand, has been cold, damp and even snowy in spots. The average temperature so far has been 47.5 degrees, which makes it seven degrees colder than February.
What can we expect in April? If temperatures stay close to normal, high temperatures will increase from 68 to 75 by the end of the month. The low temperature will increase from 43 at the beginning of the month to 51 at the end.
Spring is a time of rebirth, flowers bloom and trees start to open, but it also means pollen. You may notice the green and yellow pine tree pollen that covers your car this time of the year. Pollen numbers go up on dry windy days and fall when rainy weather washes it out of the atmosphere. Rain is a good thing for allergy sufferers.
Another spring visitor is the cankerworm. Every spring, these little buggers start hanging from trees, getting in your hair and just about everything else. Banding trees will help slow the spread of these little guys.
If you're thinking about planting flowers, typically the Charlotte area experiences the last frost around, April 15. Along the I-40 corridor, you should probably wait until April 22. In the mountains, planting doesn't start until the first or second week in May depending on elevation. Some folks will even wait until Memorial Day.
Spring also means severe weather. The chances of thunderstorms producing large hail, gusty winds and tornadoes increase through the period peaking in June.
The Climate Prediction Center has issued its 30 day outlook for April. The forecast for the Charlotte area is for a better chance of above normal temperatures and near normal precipitation.