Reviewing March 2011

Despite the huge surge of warmth in mid March, the month as a whole only ended up 0.9 degrees above average (44.1 degrees monthly composite temperature compared to the 'average' of 43.2 degrees).   The last nine days of March averaged 7.1 degrees below average (yeah, having a late February ending to the month pummeled the average temperature a fair bit!) but despite the cold end, the month was considered "mild" overall.   Helps to have a day that almost hit 80, doesn't it.   This is about as "typical" a March as one can have -- wild overall, about "normal" on temperatures once the wilds are balanced out.

Precipitation overall was about a half inch above average -- 4.29" total, with most of it falling early in the month (3.59" fell in the first half of the month).  

Reviewing First Half of March 2011

So far, March has been rather mild -- averaging 3.5 degrees above where we should be through yesterday.   Not warmest on record but certainly a mild month on the whole.   Until today and tomorrow, the month has not been overly mild -- three days above 60 (5th-6th, 16th) but there's only been one rather chilly day in the mix (3rd, accompanied by tons of sun).    With the upcoming warmth between today and tomorrow, the average temperature for the month will likely be at least four above going into the weekend.

Rainfall so far has been quite high -- 3.59" through yesterday, which is nearly double where we need to be at this point and almost at our monthly average (3.80").   Given the minor flooding (more significant flooding to our north) due to the combination of snow melt (north) and heavy rain (everywhere), it would make sense we're above average.  However, we're behind last March's soaking pace as of yesterday (3.78" last year through March 16th, ended up at 7.33" in the third wettest March ever).