In parts of the Northern Hemisphere, an April shower is

rain Rain is water droplets that have condensed from atmospheric water vapor and then fall under gravity. Rain is a major component of the water cycle and is responsible for depositing most of the fresh water on the Earth. It provides water ...

during the month of April. One of the major causes of the often heavy downpours is the position of the jet stream. In early spring, the jet stream starts to move northwards, allowing large depressions to bring strong winds and rain in from the Atlantic. In one day the weather can change from springtime sunshine to winter sleet and snow. The track of these depressions can often be across Ireland and Scotland bringing bands of rain followed by heavy showers (often of hail or snow) and strong blustery winds. The

proverb A proverb (from la, proverbium) is a simple and insightful, traditional saying that expresses a perceived truth based on common sense or experience. Proverbs are often metaphorical and use formulaic language. A proverbial phrase or a proverbia ...

"March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers", first recorded in 1886, and the shorter,

trochaic In English poetic metre and modern linguistics, a trochee () is a metrical foot consisting of a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed one. But in Latin and Ancient Greek poetic metre, a trochee is a heavy syllable followed by a light one (al ...

version "April showers bring May flowers" (originally "Sweet April showers/Do spring May flowers", part of a poem recorded in 1610) are common expressions in English speaking countries. The phrase is referenced in the

General Prologue The General Prologue is the first part of ''The Canterbury Tales'' by Geoffrey Chaucer. It introduces the frame story, in which a group of pilgrims travelling to the shrine of Thomas Becket in Canterbury agree to take part in a storytelling comp ...

of '' The Canterbury Tales'': "Whan that Aprill, with his shoures soote The droghte of March hath perced to the roote".

Meteorological Data

In London, the smallest chance of a wet day in the year is on April 27. The average sliding 31-day rainfall during April is also fairly low, at about . In Edinburgh, the smallest chance of a wet day in the year is on April 18. The average sliding 31-day rainfall during April is also fairly low, at about . In Dublin, the smallest chance of a wet day in the year is on April 21. The average sliding 31-day rainfall during April is also fairly low, at about .

References

April events Precipitation {{climate-stub

Meteorological Data

See also

References