Week’s weather going from icy to toasty

Chattanoogans’ wardrobe essentials this week are fairly typical for springtime across the Tennessee Valley: parkas and snow boots one day, shorts and sandals the next.

A sunny Easter Sunday was followed by snow Monday. Today, sub-freezing temperatures are expected to warm into the low 60s by late afternoon, according to WTVC NewsChannel 9 chief meteorologist David Glenn.

“In typical March fashion we have a day that feels like winter and then it is back into spring,” he said. “It is the ‘March madness’ of the weather world.”

It is possible there will be another freeze or frost this year, but it is unlikely, Mr. Glenn said.

“Old man winter is going to have one more — I hope it is the last — gasp this week,” said David Gaffin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Morristown, Tenn.

Today’s high is forecast to be in the mid-60s, about 20 degrees cooler than the 88-degree record high for March 25 that was set last year, according to weather service records.

Temperatures are expected to rise by Thursday to the low 70s and remain that high through the weekend, Mr. Gaffin said.

“Hopefully, we will stay warm but because of what happened last year I don’t want to say winter is over,” he said.

For several weeks last March the daytime temperatures were more like summer than spring, “It stayed in the 80s until March 30,” before plummeting below freezing on April 7-8, Mr. Gaffin said.

Rain is forecast for Friday night and Saturday, but snow showers seen Monday across East Tennessee and Northwest Georgia are expected to be this spring’s last blast, he said.

“The April outlook calls for above-average temperatures for the entire Southeast with normal chances of precipitation,” Mr. Gaffin said. “The 90-day (April-June) outlook calls for more of the same.”

A return to normal for precipitation would be welcome, officials said.

“Last week we were within an inch of normal rainfall for the year,” Mr. Glenn said. “But the ground is already starting to dry out due to low humidity and wind.”

While the year-to-date rainfall total of 13.2 inches is below the norm of about 15 inches, Mr. Gaffin said it is better than last year’s total.

“This time last year we had had 6.28 inches of precipitation, total, for the year,” he said. “We may be 1.95 inches below normal but we are better off now than last year.”

Fast Facts concerning Chattanooga weather:

* Average high temperature for March 25 is 66 degrees.

* Record high temperature for March 25 of 88 degrees was set last year.

* Average low temperature for March 25 is 42 degrees.

* Record low for March 25 of 25 degrees was set in 1983.

* Average last freeze: April 5.

* Average last frost: April 19.