Weather (temperature and rain) on AT trail

[Grasshopper15]

I am planning NOBO starting at Springer mountain at end of March. Would appreciate information as to what kind of temperature and particularly rain ( how much ,how frequently ) to expect along the trail?
Thanks,
Grasshopper15

[Slo-go'en]

Hard to predict these days. Typically April and May are wet months up and down the Appalachians. You need good rain gear often enough to want to have good rain gear.

It can occasionally dip below freezing, but once into April it will generally go no lower then the low 40's at night. But couple that with light drizzle or fog and it feels a lot colder as the moisture sucks the heat out of you. Add in a little wind and it cuts to the bone.

[moldy]

At higher altitudes in Georgia and NC it will still be pretty cold at night in the 30’s perhaps 20's. So you need a good sleeping bag and a puffy jacket. If it get’s super cold you can sleep in your coat. With all of the up’s and down’s in this area try to sleep at lower altitudes when it's very cold. There is 15 or 20 degrees difference sometimes. For most hikers in this area who are hit by the big cold front they just go to town. That can be your backup plan everywhere except the Smokey’s. You will hit them about April 15th and for most of us there are no spots to bail in the first 4 days to Newfound Gap and the next 3 days to Davenport Gap. So pay attention to the weather report. Never enter the Smokey’s in the face of an impending winter storm. You will get rained on and may even see some snow. There have been times of extended rain where you are in it day after day.

[fastfoxengineering]

Hard to predict these days. Typically April and May are wet months up and down the Appalachians. You need good rain gear often enough to want to have good rain gear.

It can occasionally dip below freezing, but once into April it will generally go no lower then the low 40's at night. But couple that with light drizzle or fog and it feels a lot colder as the moisture sucks the heat out of you. Add in a little wind and it cuts to the bone.This. 50* can be quite uncomfortable when you add in an overcast day, rain, wind, exposure, and the fact that you don't have a warm car waiting for you at the trail head with a fresh change of clothes. Add in the fact that you are going to rinse and repeat for the next 3 days. It'll make people go home. Most start planning for a zero in a town.

It can actually honestly suck. Your out there living in it. So being a little overprepared is smart in that regard.




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[grubbster]

At higher altitudes in Georgia and NC it will still be pretty cold at night in the 30’s perhaps 20's. So you need a good sleeping bag and a puffy jacket. If it get’s super cold you can sleep in your coat. With all of the up’s and down’s in this area try to sleep at lower altitudes when it's very cold. There is 15 or 20 degrees difference sometimes. For most hikers in this area who are hit by the big cold front they just go to town. That can be your backup plan everywhere except the Smokey’s. You will hit them about April 15th and for most of us there are no spots to bail in the first 4 days to Newfound Gap and the next 3 days to Davenport Gap. So pay attention to the weather report. Never enter the Smokey’s in the face of an impending winter storm. You will get rained on and may even see some snow. There have been times of extended rain where you are in it day after day.
Quoted just so people can read your post. :)

[dcdennis]

Starting 3/25 from the approach trail. See ya out there!

[Elaikases]

I am planning NOBO starting at Springer mountain at end of March. Would appreciate information as to what kind of temperature and particularly rain ( how much ,how frequently ) to expect along the trail?
Thanks,
Grasshopper15

http://trailquest.net/weather.html

Weather Charts


http://trailquest.net/weather1.gif



http://trailquest.net/weather2.gif

[Shrewd]

Like others have said just be prepared Gear wise and mentally.

Last year it was surprisingly warm most of February but then in mid March we got slammed by a blizzard that had us in a below zero windchill halfway up blood mountain.

Rain for most of Tennessee and southern Va.

Good times


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[Koozy]

If you are prepared for 3 weeks of rain during the first month of your hike, you'll be sufficiently prepared to deal with anything. It's more likely that the wetness will get to you before the cold does.

[Spirit Walker]

Actual rainfall is different every year. There are the notoriously wet years, where it rains daily for weeks at a time, and drought years where the springs all dry up. Average is that one day in three will have some sort of precipitation, but that may mean of mist, sleet and snow in Georgia, no rain in VA and MD, and daily rain in Maine. On my two thruhikes, the one in three average worked for me, but some of that was night rains or rains while I was in town, so didn't impact my hiking much. Be prepared for cold and snow until mid-May. Don't send your warm gear home even if you are having a warm spell earlier because the mountains of southern VA can get snow quite late in spring.

[Nooga]

Decent rain jacket and a 20 deg bag until Pearisburg, VA. I carried mid weight top and bottom to wear in camp and to sleep.

[4eyedbuzzard]

http://trailquest.net/weather.html

Weather Charts


http://trailquest.net/weather1.gif



http://trailquest.net/weather2.gif

Planning gear for average temperatures will almost guaranty that you'll be under prepared. Especially in winter and early spring, subtract 20°F from the average lows. Averages are just that. For every warmer than average day/night, you'll see a colder one. Daily temperatures typically fluctuate up to +/-20° from average temps. Subtract an additional 3.5° for every 1000' above the elevation the average is base on as well.

[Grasshopper15]

Thanks for all the replies. That gives me a rough idea so as not to be surprised when on the trail. Weather page is nice , will bookmark it to follow along.
Grasshopper15

[Wyoming]

Good advise above.

Just always prepare for slightly worse than normal conditions and then adapt to the latest info you have.

As the season progresses you can mail extra gear home and have it mailed back to you later in the fall. It is nice to shed a few lbs for a couple of months - and then you cry when you get it all back.

In the middle of the summer in the mid-Atlantic the rain is often so warm it is like a shower and you want to get soaked. When it stops wring out your socks and take off again. In no time you are dry and clean again.

[MtDoraDave]

Grasshopper, a good one to bookmark is Atweather.org . It will give you forecasts for each shelter along the way rather than the nearest town whose relative elevation can drastically differ.
The only confusing part is the section on the NC/ TN border... but it's not that hard to figure out.