Record set in Dayton for number of measurable snow days in April

UPDATE @ 10 p.m.: A tenth of an inch of snow and voila! It's a Dayton record for the most number of days in April with measurable (at least that amount) of snow, Storm Center 7 Chief Meteorologist Eric Elwell said.

According to data released as of 8 p.m. by the National Weather Service in Wilmington…. a tenth of an inch of snow has been measured at Dayton International Airport for Monday, April 16, 2018.

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This sets a record at 5 for most number of days in April with measurable (at least a tenth of an inch) of snow.

Cincinnati also broke the record, with 5 days of accumulating snow in April.

INITIAL REPORT

Sunshine and 70s last week, snow showers and cold this week.

Mother nature can’t seem to make up her mind.

Temperatures have plunged 40 degrees since Friday and it seems like winter just doesn’t want to let go.

So how unusual is it to see snow showers in late April? Actually, it’s not that rare.

>>FREEZE WARNING tonight: What you need to do

"It is important to note though that we have had snow in May before," Elwell said, "but we can never rule that out."

The latest seasonal measurable snowfall record is a half-inch of snow on May 9, 1923.

>>5-day forecast: How much more snow will we see?

But Elwell doesn't think we'll be seeing May snow.

We are on track, however, to make it into the top 5 for snowiest Aprils on record.

And Elwell believes we are about to turn a corner and say goodbye to the ever changing weather pattern, and it could be as early as this week.

"The stronger sun angle this time of year will eventually win out, and the warmth of spring will return. But don’t look for as fast as a warm-up as we saw last week," he said.

Elwell strongly suggests holding off on any significant planting other than cold season vegetables right now. While the average last freeze date in Dayton is April 19, temperatures in the region have dipped below 32 degrees as late as May 3.

And the way this year has gone, Elwell said it wouldn’t surprise him if we hit another record.

The advice has always been to wait until Mother’s Day weekend to do any planting. This year, that falls on May 13.

"I'd say that's good advice to follow, especially this year," Elwell said.

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