A cold, wet, windy start to spring

GAINESVILLE - The first day of spring in Gainesville was just as predicted: more winterlike than springlike.

More than two inches of rain fell Monday - the first time since August 7 that a daily total exceeded two inches. Most of it fell overnight after a cold, windy day that saw the high reach only 48 with wind chills in the upper 20s at times.

The first day of spring last year was dry with a high of 64; in 2004 it was also rain-free with a high of 73.

Virtually the whole country started spring with winterlike weather - with some places getting up to a foot of snow.