March 2021 was milder and drier than normal with a significant dry spell from the 2^nd through the 17^th. A late rally from the 18^th through the 31^st yielded 2.02” of precipitation or about 95% of the total (estimated) monthly precipitation amount.  Despite the total lack of frozen precipitation events during March, I still had mobility problems and did not get out to the rain gauge for daily measurements most of the time. I have had to make estimated daily values of rain. I suspended my daily cocorahs readings during the month. Analysis and data reflected in this month’s report are based on these estimated values determined from nearby cocorahs and weather underground stations along with some supplemental VP2 gauge data. Other types of data, particularly temperature, dew point/relative humidity, wind, and barometric pressure are true values, not estimated as they were in February. 

My maximum temperature average (57.4°) was 3.9° above normal along with my minimum temperature average (39.9°) which was 6.5° above normal, resulting in the mean temperature average of 48.7° that was 5.2° above normal. My estimated total precipitation of 2.13″ was about 1.61” below the normal March value for my station of 3.74”. There were only 6 days with measurable precipitation, concentrated towards the end of the month. Snow, sleet and glaze were non-existent at my location during the month.  Estimated seasonal snowfall total is still 14.7” through March 31, with none in April so far and with none likely to fall the rest of the rapidly fading snow season. .      

There were several moderately cold days in March, with 9 days of 40s maximums and 9 days of sub-freezing minimums, all occurring on or before March 20. The coldest day of the month was on the 5th (25.2°). There were a moderate amount of mild-warm days during the month, with 10 days of 60s maxs and 4 days with 70s maxs. The maximum value reached during March was 79.9° on the 26^th. Nine mild days of 60° or more were experienced during the last third of the month.  

The estimated monthly maximum daily precipitation amount of 0.71″ was reached on March 24^th. The estimated two day total of 0.72” from the 24^th– 25^th was the greatest estimated multi-day rain event of the month, such as it was.  The extreme barometric pressure readings of the month exhibited more normal type patterns than January. The highest value of 30.65” on the 20th occurred at the onset of our mild-warm and occasionally wet last third of the month period, while the lowest value of 29.53” occurred about a week later on the 28^th  during one of our few wet days during the month.  

The highest dew point temperature reached during the month was 66° on the 26^th, the warmest day of the month, while the lowest dew point value of 4° occurred on the 15^th, near the end of the cooler-drier first two-thirds of the month.

March had 6 cloudy, 10 partly cloudy, and 15 clear/sunny days, about what to expect for a dry, early spring month.  .  There were 510 heating degree days and 4 cooling degree days during the month. There were only 4 foggy days but 11 windy days (8 from the 1^st-14^th and 3 days the last week of the month) with no days of snow, glaze, and sleet. The peak wind gust noted during March was 55 MPH from the W on the 28^th (same day as my lowest pressure day of the month). On the other hand, 6 straight days had PWG values below 15 MPH between the 20^th and the 25th.

My maximum temperature frequencies included 4 days over 70°, 10 days between 60° and 69°, 8 days between 50° and 59°, and 9 days in the 30s. On the minimum temperature frequency side of things, there were 6 days below 30°, 9 days between 30° and 39° (with 9 days of freezing or below mins total), with 11 days between 40° and 49° and 5 days 50° or over.  The coldest daily max temperature day was 41.5° on the 2^nd while the warmest daily min temp day of 58.3° was reached on the 26^th.      

The diurnal range daily monthly average was 17.5° (- 1.2°). Our greatest daily range of temperature was 30.3° on the 9th (67.8°- 37.5°). We had a total of 14 days with daily ranges above 20°. Our lowest range of temperature was 4.2° (43.4°- 39.2°) on the 16th. There were 5 days with diurnal temperature ranges of less than 10° during the month, all of which occurred between the 16^th and 25^th of the month, a period of considerable cloudiness to keep a lid on temperature variations on many of those days.

March 2021 was dry with a dry, chilly start and a mild, wetter ending. Good news to report on the rainfall data “front” – I have resumed safe trips out to the cocorahs rain gauge so with my April report I should have accurate, measured data to report on once again.

March excel data spreadsheet PDF:

2021-03 Rockvillr 2.8 WNW

 

SUMMARY STATISTICS

Average high temperature                           57.4° (+ 3.9°)

Average low temperature                            39.9° (+ 6.5°)

Mean temperature                                       48.7° (+ 5.2°)

High temperature for the month (date)       79.9°    (26)

Low temperature for the month (date)        25.2°     (5)

Precipitation                                                *2.13″ (- 1.61“)

Greatest daily amount (date)                       *0.71″   (24)

Greatest storm total (dates)                       *0.72” (24-25)

2021 year-to-date precipitation total          *8.84″ (- 0.56”)

Snow                                                              0.0”      NA

Highest barometric pressure (date)           30.65” (20)

Lowest barometric pressure (date)            29.53” (28)

Peak wind gust (date/direction):                 55 (28/W) (USG data across the street)

Heating degree days for the month:           510

Cooling degree days for the month:              4

Greatest diurnal range (date):                    30.3°  (9)

Least diurnal range (date)                            4.2° (16)

Number of days:

Fog                                        4                 

Windy                                   11

Glaze                                     0

Sleet                                     0

Snow                                     0

Cloudy                                   6

Partly Cloudy                        10

Sunny/Clear                         15

Max temp ≥ 70°                      4

Min temp <= 32°                     9

Max temp <= 32°                    0

Precip ≥ 0.01”                         6

• – Estimated Data