Is March Really A Lion?

by Peter Geiger | Friday, February 27th, 2009 | From: Farmers' Almanac Blog

I always welcome March with some trepidation. March means that the worst of winter is behind us, but the worst of winter might yet come. For those in northern states, March is one of the snowiest months. And, if you get a storm it is usually very wet and heavy . Last week Maine was hit with a March-like storm. Up to 2 feet of wet snow leaving 140,000 homes without power for up to 6 days. One of the most quoted weather-lore adages involves the month of March.

Q. Is there any truth to the weather folklore that refers to March as “coming in like a lion, and going out like a lamb?”
A. Weather sayings are as colorful as our imagination. While many sayings are based on careful observations and do turn out to be accurate, others are merely rhymes or the beliefs of the people who came before us. Those people often believed that bad spirits could affect the weather adversely, so they were cautious as to what they did or did not do in certain situations. Those beliefs often included ideas that there should be a balance in weather and life. So, if a month came in bad (like a lion), it should go out good and calm (like a lamb). With March being such a changeable month, in which we can see warm spring-like temperatures or late- season snow storms, you can understand how this saying might hold true in some instances. We can only hope that if March starts off cold and stormy it will end warm and sunny, but the key word is hope. This saying is more a rhyme rather than a true weather predictor.

On the subject of getting out of winter, Daylight Saving Time will arrive shortly. We will move our clocks ahead (spring forward) on Sunday, March 8th. That will give us more sunlight later in the day, Something to look forward to.

Peter Geiger is the Editor of the Farmers' Almanac. Read his full biography here.

1 comment

1 Renee Dill { 03.02.09 at 2:22 am }: March REALLY came in like a lion here in Alabama! Temps in the upper 60′s and 70′s, thunderstorms and tornadoes a day or two and the next we have 3-5 inches of snow on March 1st. It’s Sunday night and 29 degrees. It’s gonna be cold for about 3 days, then warm up to the 60′s and 70′s again. I don’t like winter, but the snow’s OK. We enjoy that, especially the ice cream. I hope the rest of March is like a lamb cause I miss the greenery and blooms. Oh yeah, the FISHING!!! LOL We love spring and summer, even with the storms. I’m a storm spotter, so they really don’t bother me. I try to stay out of the lightning though. Been through an F-5 and some smaller ones, and while they’re extremely dangerous, they’re an amazing force of nature. The F-5 I was in was in Guin, AL on April 3, 1974. I was 16 years old and 23 people were killed, some of my friends, one of my best friends and many of the rest I either knew rom school, church or community. I just hope and pray that this tornado season has that “lamb” quality and we all stay safe. Here’s to a safe and happy March, lion or lamb!

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Farmers' Almanac Long Range Weather

February 8th - February 11th

United States

Canada

Northeast U.S.
Wet snow mixed with rain Mid-Atlantic north through New England; slushy accumulations of 4+" possible.
Midwest/Great Lakes U.S.
Accumulating snows Kentucky, Ohio, then clearing. Fair elsewhere.
Southeast U.S.
Wet snow Tennessee, western North Carolina; wintry mix northern Mississippi, Alabama. Elsewhere, rain, then clearing.
North Central U.S.
Drier, much colder.
South Central U.S.
Snow parts of Arkansas, then clearing, cold. Clear, much colder elsewhere.
Northwest U.S.
Drier, but colder.
Southwest U.S.
Drier, but noticeably colder.