We’re about to transition into April . . . like March, it can be an odd month, especially here in “Almanac Country’” (New England).
In some years, winter seems destined to hang on right on through much of the month with a continuation of cold, ice, and snow. The weather annals show that in the year 1812, the Rev. William Bentley noted in his diary: “We cannot refuse to notice an uncommon backward spring. Not a flower to be seen this Maying.”
In other years, however, southerly winds may blow bringing unusually mild temperatures accompanied by blossoms and May flowers well ahead of schedule. On April 7 and 8, 1929, the temperature soared to 90 and 87 (respectively) in Hartford; Boston hit 84 both days and at North Grosvenor Dale, Connecticut, the temperature rose from 33 to 87-degrees!
With the Sun climbing ten-degrees higher in altitude during this month, average temperatures will respond: along Long Island Sound, the increase equates to ten degrees; in northern Maine (where a record amount of snow fell this season), the increase is thirteen degrees. And, in central New England, the length of direct sunlight increases by about 80 minutes.
So regardless if, as you’re reading this, there is still a wintry chill in the air, make no mistake, spring is on the way!
If you notice a hole in the upper left-hand corner of your Farmers' Almanac, don't return it to the store! That hole isn't a defect; it's a part of history. Starting with the first edition of the Farmers' Almanac in 1818, readers used to nail holes into the corners to hang it up in their homes, barns, and outhouses (to provide both reading material and toilet paper). In 1910, the Almanac's publishers began pre-drilling holes in the corners to make it even easier for readers to keep all of that invaluable information (and paper) handy.
