Mother Nature to have last laugh on April Fools’ Day with cold temperatures

© File photo Thermometer

After a 70-degree Tuesday, temperatures will plummet Thursday, kicking off April with a cold snap, according to the National Weather Service. 

The forecast for April 1 predicts high temperatures in the mid-30s as a cold air mass moves into the region, according to Steve Hrebenach, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Wilmington. Temperatures will dip to the low 20s Thursday night. 

Hrebenach said the temperature swings are normal for this time of year. 

“In springtime, it’s pretty typical to have big changes in temperature,” he said. 

But what isn’t normal is for Columbus to go the entire month of March without a trace of snow. This year, John Glenn International Airport recorded no trace of snow in March for the first time since its records began in 1884, Hrebenach said. 

Hrebenach said the cold snap could threaten springtime blooms. 

“If you have any tender vegetation that’s out already, then yes, I would think that you want to cover that to protect it because I said we’ll have those subfreezing temperatures the next couple nights,” he said. 

After a chilly April Fool’s Day, temperatures are expected to rebound, with Friday staying cool in the mid 40s and weekend highs reaching the upper 50s and lower 60s. 

@sam_raudins

sraudins@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Mother Nature to have last laugh on April Fools’ Day with cold temperatures