Nearly all the days with a southwest wind occurred during the first half of April. The breeze off the still very cold Atlantic made the days very chilly and delayed farming. Lawns were mowed by mid-month and forsynthia is well past bloom on the 30th. The continued period of many showers has delayed plowing and planting.
We had one hot day! 71 on the 16th. At least it seemed hot after all the days of forties and fifties we had been having. Lowest temperature at night was 26 on the 14th. So far this has been our last frost. But a severe frost in low places has occurred as late as the first week in June!
Measureable rain fell on 13 days, for a total of 5.55 inches. The greatest amount occurred on the 21st with 0.72 of an inch and 1.85 inches on the 22nd. This 2.57 inches flooded some cellars, made washouts in fields, flooded roads and delayed field work. Plowing when the soil is too wet, makes for lumpy soil all summer and it is difficult to cultivate when plants are small.
There were 3 days with fog, 2 days with winds over 40 mph and one night with thunder and lightning. Our prevailing wind blew from the southwest on 10 days. The strongest wind of April was on the 9th when 52 mph was registered from the northwest. Recorded were 8 clear, 7 partly cloudy and 15 cloudy days.
Our coming month will have many days in the 70s and some in the 80s. If we have above normal rains, lawns will be mowed more often than weekly. May and June are the two months when nature puts into bloom more flowers, schrubs, and trees than any other time. Soon the Shad bushes will be in bloom and that is when most of the Chequit are in the bay. You don't believe? Ask an Old Timer. Do not get sunburn or a dark tan in a hurry, it is not healthy. I look for a very hot and dry summer, with one or two hurricanes.