By Chuck Otte
County Extension Agent ( Ret. )
After two cold months we returned to a more expected weather pattern. March was significantly warmer than average temperatures and significantly drier than normal!The average daily high for March was 64.5, 8.4 degrees above normal. The average overnight low was 38.7, 5.9 degrees above normal. This gave us a monthly mean temperature of 51.7, 7.2 degrees above normal.
This made March the third warmest March on record. The warmest March was in 2012 when we had a monthly mean temperature of 57.5. The second warmest March was in 2007 when we had a monthly mean temperature of 52.1. The four warmest March’s on record have been in the last 18 years. The coldest March was in 1960 when we had an average temperature of 31.3 degrees. The warmest temperature in March was 84 degrees on the 27th. This was also a record high for that date. The previous record was 82 degreees set in 1989. That was the only temperature record set for March. The lowest temperature for the month was 26 degrees on the morning of March 6th.
After two snowy months and above average precipitation total in January, March fell well below the long term average precipitation for the month. Average precipitation for March is 2.0 inches and March 2025 recorded only 0.59 inches. While well below average it did not make it into the ten driest March’s on record. The driest March is a tie between 1966 and 1968 when no precipitation was recorded. The wettest March was in 1974 when 8.04 inches was recorded! Year to date we have received 2.58 inches, below the long term average of 3.83 inches.
We received a trace of snowfall during March, on the 5th and 20th. Thanks to above average snowfall in January and February we are above average for the year. Average annual snowfall is 18 inches and through the snowfall season, October thru April, we have received 25.2 inches. April brings the promise of spring with readily warming temperatures. Average daily highs in April start the month with 63 degrees and by the end of the month they are pushing 70, with a reading of 68 on the 30th. Avererge overnight lows on April 1st are 38 and by the 30th they have risen to 47. April also starts the “wet” season for the year. Average April precipitation is 3.15 inches. April through August precipitation accounts for 65% of our annual average precipitation.