You thought it was over, didn't you?

Winter, I mean.

Last week's mild temperatures and major snow-melt put many in a spring state of mind. If you were one of those people, I'm sorry to report that it's still winter.

Heck, even when winter is over, it usually isn't over. While the calendar shows that winter ends and spring begins the third week of March, we all know that snow and cold can easily linger into April.

Milwaukee averages a total of 10 inches of snow in March and April. That's a depressing thought for those who already have visions of green grass and budding flowers in their minds.

You may remember that in 2008, we were clobbered by snow during March. Between 10 and 20 inches fell across Southeast Wisconsin. In contrast, last March was uneventful with only an inch or so.

The most memorable late-season snowfall may be the 3.2 inches that fell on Milwaukee on May 10, 1990.

You (or your parents) may remember the April 9, 1973 snowstorm. A heavy, wet 11.9 inches nearly paralyzed the city. The storm also produced thunder, lightning and wind gusts over 50 miles per hour. It also delayed the Brewers season opener for four days.

On the plus side, when it does snow in March or April, it doesn't stick around very long. That's because the average temperature warms quickly during those months. We go from an average high in the mid to upper-30s at the start of March to the upper 40s by the end of the month. The warming continues in April with the average high increasing to 60 by the end of the month.

While there's no telling whether snow in April or May is in the cards for 2011, it does appear that it will feel very much like winter for at least the next two weeks. Temperatures are expected to average below normal through at least the first week of March. Readings like that mean that if anything falls from the sky, it's a good bet it will be snow.