March 2010 Climate Summary

For a printable version of the climate summary which includes more figures, data tables, and state summaries, click here. 

Temperature Summary

In stark contrast to the colder than normal temperatures of February, March 2010 was warmer than normal across the majority of the High Plains Region.  Many locations of the Region were near normal.  However, temperature departures ranged from 2 degrees F (1.1 degrees C) to 9 degrees F (5.0 degrees C) above normal from central Nebraska to Wyoming to the Canadian border.  Isolated areas of the Region had temperature departures that were greater than 2 degrees F (1.1 degrees C) below normal.  These occurred in central Colorado, southern and eastern Kansas, and pockets of Nebraska and North Dakota.

Many locations across eastern portions of North Dakota were ranked in the top 10 warmest.  This month’s warm location was Fargo, North Dakota which recorded its 4th warmest March on record (period of record 1881-2010).  The average temperature was 35.4 degrees F (1.9 degrees C) which was 8.2 degrees F (4.6 degrees C) above normal.  The warmest March on record occurred in 1910 when the average temperature was 40.9 degrees F (4.9 degrees C).

Precipitation Summary

March was an active month for many areas of the Region.  Areas of the Region which received at least 150 percent of normal precipitation included central North Dakota, south central South Dakota, southwestern Nebraska, isolated pockets of Kansas, southeastern Wyoming, and western, central, and southeastern Colorado.  Major flooding was reported in the Red River Valley in North Dakota and heavy precipitation broke records in southeast Colorado.  Unfortunately, precipitation was lacking in areas which were already experiencing abnormally dry or drought conditions.  This caused severe drought to develop in western Wyoming and moderate drought to develop in north central Colorado.

This month’s wet location was again south central Colorado where precipitation totals were well over 300 percent of normal.  The Trinidad Perry Stokes Airport, Colorado received 3.65 inches (92.71 mm) of precipitation which was 388 percent of normal precipitation (period of record 1948-2010).  This crushed the old record of 2.58 inches (65.53 mm) received in March 2000.  Interestingly, this was the second record breaking month in a row as the Trinidad Perry Stokes Airport, Colorado also set its wettest February on record in 2010.  Of the total monthly precipitation at the Trinidad Perry Stokes Airport, 2.22 inches (56.39 mm) fell in one day, March 8th.  This amount not only set the new record for the day, but also for the highest one day precipitation total for the month of March and the 4th highest one day precipitation total for entire period of record.  The previous record for one day precipitation for March occurred March 18, 1984 when 0.95 inches (24.13 mm) of precipitation fell.  The plots (Page 2, left) show just how wet the Trinidad Perry Stokes Airport has been over the past year with the accumluated precipitation above normal (in the blue shading) from April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010.  More graphs like this one may be found via the Station Search tool here.

Climate Outlook

El Niño conditions were present this month and are expected to continue at least through Spring 2010.  The temperature outlook indicates a higher probability of below normal temperatures for the Dakotas, northern Nebraska, far southern Kansas, and the northeast corner of Wyoming.  Only far western Colorado and far western Wyoming have a higher probability for above normal temperatures.  Equal chances of above, near, or below normal temperatures are predicted elsewhere.  The precipitation outlook indicates a higher probability of above normal precipitation for Colorado, southern Wyoming, western Kansas, and western Nebraska.  Equal chances of above, near, or below normal precipitation are predicted elsewhere in the Region. The seasonal outlooks combine the effects of long-term trends, soil moisture, and when applicable, the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle.  More information about these forecasts can be found here.

Drought Watch

There were big changes to the U.S. Drought Monitor for the High Plains Region this month.  Abnormally dry conditions (D0) spread further east in Wyoming, while moderate drought conditions (D1) developed in north central Colorado.  In addition, severe drought conditions (D2) developed in western Wyoming due to continued below average snow water equivalence measurements and below normal precipitation.  According to the U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook released March 18th, the abnormally dry and drought conditions in northwestern Colorado and western Wyoming are expected to persist through June 2010.