Three snows before winter goes

If you had opened up your window last Thursday when the snow was falling, you might have heard a chorus of “oh no, not more snow”! Yes, astronomically it was spring but we all know, we don’t really get into springlike weather until we turn the calendar page… sometimes two pages.

Grandma was never surprised when it snowed after the spring equinox. She was always quick to remind us that there would be 3 more snows after the first day of spring. Lo and behold, after I moved here I learned that according to Maritime folklore, the Annapolis Valley always receives 3 snowfalls after the March Equinox and they are so predictable they have been given names.

The first snow is the smelt snow: it’s believed that the smelt would start to run after the first spring snow.

The second snowfall following the equinox is the robin snow; according to folklore this snowfall brings them back.

And finally, the green grass snow. Grandma often referred to it as poor man’s fertilizer. I think this one is an attempt to put a positive spin on a very late snowfall and keep some people from crying.

So is there any truth to this? Well in March, frontal boundaries start to push through as the jet stream attempts to shift from its winter position to a more summertime one. The big puffy snowflakes are often associated with a warm front. Behind a warm front, there is often a dry slot and some sun! Warm spring sunshine could trigger the smelt migration, bring the birds out of the woods and maybe even make the grass green.

I decided to check last year’s weather statistics; I found that we had 4 snowfalls after the spring equinox. Mother Nature was kind enough to toss in a bonus snowfall on April 2nd. I hope she doesn’t feel the need to do the same this year!

“So is there any truth to this? Well in March, frontal boundaries start to push through as the jet stream attempts to shift from its winter position to a more summertime one. The big puffy snowflakes are often associated with a warm front. Behind a warm front, there is often a dry slot and some sun! Warm spring sunshine could trigger the smelt migration, bring the birds out of the woods and maybe even make the grass green.”