Do April Showers Really Bring May Flowers?

It is not even the first complete week of April yet, and we are already expecting a decent amount of rainfall. According to the U.S. Climate Data page, Salisbury, Maryland typically can receive a little under 4″ of rain during the month of April. The average high temperature is 65°, while the average low is 43°.  In 2014 Salisbury received 4.38″ of rain, but back in  2012, we barely saw 2″ of rain.

The phrase “April Showers Bring May Flowers” dates back to the 1500’s in poetry.

The catchy rhyme has an origin that can be based off of the observation of the transition we go through as we wrap up Winter and slide into Spring. Temperatures warm up and we can start to notice a gradual change around us. Wild animals and bugs become more present during Spring. Insects help pollinate plants which coincides with the “May Flowers” that we expect.

During the month of April, there is a noticeably higher amount of incoming solar radiation that makes it to the Earth’s surface. The tilt of the Earth has a lot to do with the seasons we experience. The land remains relatively cool but the oceans are still even cooler. This can lead to instability that will eventually trigger rainfall, which is also noted as sea breeze showers. A land breeze can occur overnight when the land cools faster than surround waters.

So as we sit in the beginning of April, it will be wise to keep your umbrella handy!