SPRINGTIME: WARM AND WET APRIL MAY BE IN STORE

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The National Weather Service says the generally warm and dry March weather will give way to a warm and wet April, with spring thunderstorms and the chance for severe weather.

Thunderstorms are predicted for today and Monday, with highs in the upper 70s to low 80s. Saturday's high at Cape Girardeau was 79 degrees.

The unseasonably warm weather is expected to continue Monday, with cooler temperatures forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday.

The 30-day April outlook calls for above-average temperatures and precipitation in much of Southeast Missouri and all of Southern Illinois. The 90-day, long-range outlook through June suggests near seasonal temperatures and near to below-normal amounts of rainfall in the area.

Despite two cold days and nights at the end of the month, Dr. Al Robertson of Southeast Missouri State University's Earth Science Department reported the March average monthly temperature was 50.9 degrees, 4 degrees above the average of 46.8 degrees.

Robertson said last month was the eighth warmest March here in 45 years. The warmest March was in 1946, with an average of 58.8 degrees. The coolest March on record was in 1960, with an average of 33.2 degrees.

Robertson said a new record high was set and another tied during the month. On March 26, a record 81 degrees was recorded, breaking the previous mark of 76 degrees, set in 1950. On March 25, the afternoon high of 77 degrees tied the record high for the date, set in 1967.

Robertson said the high topped 70 degrees six days and 60 degrees 16 days last month.

He said the average daily high temperature last month was 60.8 degrees, up 5 degrees from the long-term average of 56.5 degrees.

"That's a significant figure because the record daily average high temperature for March is 63.5 degrees, in 1973," Robertson said.

The low for the month was 25 degrees, on March 10. There were eight mornings when the low was at or below freezing, Robertson said.

Despite the cool temperatures, Robertson said the average daily low for the month was 41 degrees, compared to the long-term average of 36.4 degrees.

The 10-day temperature averages last month showed the steady increase in temperatures as the month progressed.

During the first 10-day period, the average temperature was 44.2 degrees, up one-half degree from the long-term average of 43.7 degrees.

But the average temperature rose nearly 4 degrees, from the long-term average of 47 degrees to 50.8 degrees during the second 10-day period.

Robertson said the greatest departure from the seasonal norm came during the final ten-day period of March when the average was 57.2 degrees, 7.4 degrees above the long-term average of 49.8 degrees.

Robertson said that on seven of the final 10 days of the month, the afternoon high was at or above 70 degrees.

He said the mild weather at the end of the month was attributed to the west-to-east Jet Stream, which held back unusually cold air and allowed milder, Pacific air to dominate the area.

The same pattern also resulted in a generally dry period during the final 10 days of the month, Robertson said. Total precipitation for the month was 3.17 inches, down 1.24 inches from the long-term average of 4.41 inches.

The wettest days were March 22, with 1.26 inches, and March 21, with .64 of an inch.

For the period Jan. 1 through March 31, total precipitation at the airport amounted to 9.42 inches, which is 1.34 inches below the average of 10.77 inches through March.

"But it's nothing to be worried about at this time," Robertson said. "We still have April and May, which are traditionally very wet months."

The long-term temperature average for April is 58.4 degrees.

Last year, the average was 56.5 degrees. Cool and wet weather dominated from March to early June 1990.

But this year's unusually warm weather that began in mid-March has resulted in an early spring.

Dr. Charles Korns of the university's agriculture department said the spring blossoms on trees, shrubs and flowers are about 10 days to two weeks early.

"The dogwoods and redbud trees are in full bloom, along with shade bushes and wild plumb trees," he said. "The ornamental pear trees and tulip trees have already bloomed and are now leafing out."

Korns said the azaleas on Southeast's campus are about ready to break out in different colors.

"I don't think the cold weather last week hurt any of them," he said. "It didn't get that cold and stay cold long enough to cause any serious damage."

But Korns said if more cold temperatures should return later this month, it could damage developing plants.

Last year, the last killing freeze of the spring occurred April 7. The last killing freeze has occurred as late as May 17, and as early as March 6, in the Cape area.

With everything blooming and leafing out, Korns says now is the time to begin pruning shrubs - as soon as they finish blooming - so they will form growth buds for next year.

"If you haven't cut your rose bushes, now would be a good time to cut back those roses that bloom all summer," he added.