As with most months, March has a catch phrase to describe its weather: “In like a lion, out like a lamb.” Of course, the lion and lamb refer to the wind. If March starts as a windy month, the expectation is that it will end with calmer conditions. The unspoken flip-side is that if March begins with calm conditions, it is expected to make a blustery exit. One basis for this observation is that March is the transition month as we move from winter to spring. Its warmer temperatures generally bring more outdoor activities, so we are more likely to notice just how windy or calm it is that day. Another factor behind the catch phrase would be global circulation patterns, such as the Madden-Julian Oscillation which can change on a 30 to 60-day cycle. The placement and strength of the pressure systems will help determine whether this March starts as a lion or a lamb.
Mary Knapp, Weather Data Library
mknapp@ksu.edu