Ithaca Climate Summary for March 2002

Temperature

• With an average temperature of 34.6 degrees, the month averaged 2.2 degrees warmer than normal.
• This March averaged 6.5 degrees warmer than March 2001.
• This was the sixth consecutive month with a positive temperature departure, although the magnitude of the departure was the least of the six months.
• The warmest temperature of the month was 67 degrees on the 8th and the 15th.
• The coldest temperature of the month was 10 degrees on the 5th.

Precipitation

• March precipitation totalled 2.10 inches, which represented 82% of normal.
• Of this total, one inch fell on the 26th-27th.
• Precipitation for each of the last six months has been below normal, with an accumulated deficit of 4.04 inches.

Snowfall

• March snowfall amounted to only 5.7 inches. This was 6.3 inches below normal.
• Seasonal snowfall through March was 24.0 inches, which was 40.3 inches below normal.
• This was the least snowiest October-March total on record. The previous record was 24.3 inches set in the winter of 1918-19 .
• There were only 3 days this month with measurable snow cover.