Warm Start to March

March 1-15 average temperatures ranged from near normal to more than 12°F above normal.

The first half of March was milder than normal across the Northeast, with the largest departures above normal in interior locations like West Virginia and western Pennsylvania. Average temperatures for the March 1-15 period at the region’s 35 major sites ranged from 1.2°F above normal in Bridgeport, CT, to 13.7°F above normal in Beckley, WV. This period ranked among the 20 warmest starts to March for 27 major sites.

This March 1-15 period ranked among the 20 warmest for 27 major sites.

March 1-15 precipitation ranged from 25% of normal to over 200% of normal.

Precipitation during the first two weeks of March varied widely, ranging from 25% to over 200% of normal. Some of the driest spots included southern Maine, southern New Jersey, the Delmarva Peninsula, and southern West Virginia. Meanwhile, some of the wettest locations included northern West Virginia, western Pennsylvania, and western New York. March 1-15 precipitation at the region’s 35 major sites ranged from 34% of normal in Atlantic City, NJ, to 197% of normal in Allentown, PA, with 17 sites being drier than normal and 18 being wetter. This March 1-15 period ranked among the 20 driest such periods for three major sites but among the 20 wettest for seven others.

This March 1-15 period was among the 20 driest for three major sites but among the 20 wettest for seven others.

March 1-15 snowfall ranged from more than 8 inches below normal to 4 inches above normal.

A majority of the Northeast had a snowfall deficit during the first half of March, with the largest deficits of over 8 inches below normal in places like eastern West Virginia, western Maryland, western Pennsylvania, lake effect spots in New York, and far northern New England. However, a few areas had a small snowfall surplus of up to 4 inches, particularly the southern half of New Hampshire and southern Maine. Snowfall during the March 1-15 period at the region’s 35 major sites ranged from 9.9 inches below normal in Syracuse, NY, to 2.3 inches above normal in Portland, ME, with 32 of the sites having a snowfall deficit. This period was among the 20 least snowy starts to March for four major sites.

This March 1-15 period ranked among the 20 least snowy for four major sites.