Monthly Archives: April 2023

What causes April showers?

The weather this past week in Madison has been very interesting.

On at least three occasions we experienced a mix of precipitation types — with snow, hail, graupel and rain in various combinations. Continue reading

Category: Meteorology, Seasons

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How could we be in a fire danger this early in spring after all the winter snow?

This 2022-23 winter — December through February — was exceptional in that it was Wisconsin’s wettest meteorological winter on record, and those records go back to 1895.

The state also experienced significant snowfall in March. When the snow slowly melts into the soil, it provides needed water for plant growth. Continue reading

Category: Climate, Seasons, Weather Dangers

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How is air pollution measured?

There are different sources of air pollution, including human-generated emissions from the burning of fossil fuel, as well as natural sources such as wildfires, volcanic eruptions and dust storms.

Particle pollution is referred to particulate matter (PM) and is made up of small, suspended solid or liquid particles. The amount and density of pollutants in the air are converted into an Air Quality Index (AQI). An AQI of less than 50 is considered safe, while unhealthy conditions have an AQI above 100. The chemical composition of the pollutant can also be a health concern. Continue reading

Category: Meteorology, Weather Dangers

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Is March weather susceptible to being unusual?

The adage about March weather coming “in like a lion, out like a lamb” was far off the mark for southern Wisconsin this year.

In Madison, it was not a particularly cold month as the average temperature was only 0.8 degrees below normal. However, we had the second-snowiest March ever — and snowiest since the record was set in 1959 — with 25.3 inches of accumulated snow. In addition, it snowed on 16 of the 31 days in the past month, so winter was unusually reluctant to loosen its grip. Continue reading

Category: Climate, Meteorology, Seasons

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