March, In Like A Lamb ...

"March, in like a lion, out like a lamb."

If that old saying is true, is the converse true as well? Are we in for trouble ahead because we've had such nice weather so far this month? The answer, according to an article in the Farmer's Almanac, is maybe. It seems the saying came from the belief people have that there should be balance in life and weather, the almanac says. Other weather-related sayings about March, according to the Farmer's Almanac, include:

A dry March and a wet May? Fill barns and bays with corn and hay.

As it rains in March so it rains in June.

March winds and April showers? Bring forth May flowers.

One thing that is true is that yesterday was an amazing day. High temperature records were toppled from Bridgeport, CT (70 degrees) to St. Louis, MO (86 degrees). For our kids who are home on college vacation, it was a great day to go to for to , to , or to Chatfield Hollow. For our kids who were stuck in school, I'm sure many of them spent a good part of the day staring wistfully out the window. Their parents at work might have been doing the same thing.

What will the weekend weather bring for those of us who might have missed Wednesday's great weather while pining away inside? Showers on and off, and the possibility of thunderstorms. Sigh. But the sunny weather is due to return next week, luckily for us, just in time for the official start of spring. The official start to spring in the Northern Hemisphere is on March 20, 2012, at 1:14 A.M., according to The Old Farmer's Almanac. The weather that day is supposed to be partly sunny with a high in the 60's.

Here's the extended forecast from the National Weather Service for the Madison shoreline and Clinton:

Today: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48. East wind around 8 mph.

Tonight: A chance of showers, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. East wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 50. East wind between 3 and 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday Night: A chance of showers before midnight. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 40. Light north wind. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. East wind between 6 and 9 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 59.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 43.

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 59.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 63.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65.

Here is the extended forecast for North Madison, Killingworth, and towns north:

Today: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 50. East wind between 5 and 8 mph.

Tonight: A chance of showers, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. East wind between 3 and 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday: Showers likely before noon, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between noon and 1pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 53. Southeast wind between 3 and 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday Night: A chance of showers before midnight. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 40. North wind between 3 and 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. North wind 5 to 8 mph becoming east.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 60.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 43.

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 63.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 64.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66.