Home / Editor's Pick /

Weather myth: Do April showers bring May flowers?

08:00 PM
April 2, 2023

Weather myth
Do April showers bring May flowers?

Spring flowers

Have you ever wondered if April showers really do bring May flowers?

The poetic phrase dates back to the 1600s, and is suspected to have originated in the UK and Ireland, as the month of April is notoriously rainy for them.

This is partly due to the position of the jet stream, as it begins to move northwards bringing us unsettled weather. An increasing number of low pressure systems are then driven across the British Isles.

But it isn’t the only reason we get showers in April, it's also a result of strengthening daytime heating over land through spring and summer.

A perhaps more important factor over rain, is temperature. As soon as the average temperature becomes spring-like, flowers will begin to bloom, regardless of how much rain falls in April.

A cooler climate tends to mean flowers bloom a little later on average, so the old weather folklore doesn't necessarily ring true for warmer climates.

Japan's cherry blossom begins earlyread more

Early warm spells, such as the mild winter we just experienced, could then be responsible for harming flowers if a late-season frost then follows.

Weather & Radar USA editorial team
More on the topic
Sunday, June 22, 2025

Why & how does it work?

High pressure & extreme heat
Waterspouts weatherradar.
Monday, May 26, 2025

They can be dangerous

Waterspouts possible, what are they?
shutterstock-4th of July
Friday, July 4, 2025

249 years ago weather!

July 4, 1776 weather history
All weather news
This might also interest you
Friday, July 4, 2025

Heavy rains, floods

Tropical Depression 3 forms near the Southeast
tropical storm
Saturday, July 5, 2025

Hurricane Season

How do Tropical Storms form?
Thursday, July 3, 2025

Scud clouds

Ominous-looking but not dangerous
All articles
Weather & Radar

www.weatherandradar.com

instagramfacebookthreadsContact uslinkList
Privacy policy | Legal info | Accessibility statement