March: Lion and Lamb

“March comes in like a lion, and goes out like a lamb”.

This old proverb refers to March’s famously changeable weather.  As a month where we transition from winter to spring, March can often start off cold and blustery, but end warm and calm.  From the beginning to the end of the month, average daily temperatures typically increase by 10°F. Exact conditions, of course, vary from year to year.

Although the precise origins of this popular phrase are unknown, many believe it is based on the constellations.  At the beginning of March, Leo (lion) is prominent in the night sky, while Aries (sheep) begins to rise toward the end of the month.