March 2011 Climate Summary

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

Temperature Summary

Temperatures were generally warmer than normal in the west and cooler than normal in the east across the High Plains Region this month. Colorado had temperatures which ranged from near-normal up to 6 degrees F (3.3 degrees C) above normal. Colorado Springs, Colorado had its 11th warmest March on record with an average temperature of 43.1 degrees F (6.2 degrees C) which was 5.3 degrees F (2.9 degrees C) above normal (period of record 1894-2011). The warmest March on record in Colorado Springs occurred in 1910 with an average temperature of 47.4 degrees F (8.6 degrees C).

Meanwhile, the Dakotas were very cold when compared to normal this month. Average monthly temperatures across those states ranged from 6-10 degrees F (3.3-5.6 degrees C) below normal and many locations ranked in the top 10 coldest Marches on record. Aberdeen, South Dakota had an average temperature of 21.1 degrees F (-6.1 degrees C) which was 9.6 degrees F (5.3 degrees C) below normal. While not cool enough to break the 1897 record of 15.1 degrees F (-9.4 degrees C), this month’s average temperature did rank as the 7th coolest on record (period of record 1893-2011). While the month was cold overall, there was a mid-month warm-up which caused runoff to increase the flows of creeks and rivers in northeast South Dakota and eastern North Dakota. Temperatures cooled off at the end of the month and stopped the snow melt processes. However, due to the late-month cool down and additional precipitation, major flooding is still a concern for April.

Precipitation Summary

Overall, March was a dry month across the High Plains Region. Large areas of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming received 50 percent or less of normal precipitation. Pockets of southeastern Nebraska, north-central Colorado, west-central Wyoming, and southern Kansas only got 25 percent or less of normal precipitation. In many of these areas, drought conditions either developed or expanded.

However, wetter than normal conditions did occur in western and northern Wyoming, north-central Colorado, central North Dakota, and a few pockets of South Dakota and Nebraska. This month’s wet spot was central North Dakota. Another 13.7 inches (35 cm) of snow fell this month which pushed Williston, North Dakota’s snowfall total this season (July-June) to 94.6 inches (240 cm). This was enough to break the longstanding seasonal snowfall record of 89.9 inches (228 cm) set back in the 1895-1896 snowfall season (period of record 1894-2011). With snow still possible in April and May, Williston’s new record could continue to grow. While not excessively wet this month, South Dakota has been very wet over the past year and many locations already rank in the top 10 snowiest seasons on record (see table below). Sisseton, South Dakota, located in the northeast corner of the state, received 10.9 inches (28 cm) of snowfall this month and while this was not a record breaking amount, the snowfall did push the seasonal total up to 82.0 inches (208 cm). This makes the 2010-2011 snowfall season the second snowiest in Sisseton (period of record 1900-2011). The record was set during the 1993-1994 season with 82.3 inches (209 cm) of snow, which is only 0.3 inches (1 cm) higher than this season’s total. Based on past climate, there is a 66% chance that Sisseton will break the current record.

Severe weather was not a prominent issue this March across the High Plains Region. Out of the 5 days when severe weather was reported, the most active day was March 22nd. One tornado, large hail, and high winds were reported in eastern Nebraska, and hail was reported in northern Kansas. A weak EF1 tornado caused minor damage near the town of Craig, Nebraska. That same day thunder-snow was reported in eastern North Dakota and over a foot (30 cm) of snow fell in some locations.

Climate Outlook

La Niña conditions were present across the equatorial Pacific this month, but continued to weaken. The temperature outlook indicates a higher probability of above normal temperatures for most of Colorado and the southwest corner of Kansas. North Dakota, South Dakota, northeastern Nebraska and northeastern Wyoming have a higher probability of below normal temperatures. Equal chances of above, near, or below normal temperatures are predicted elsewhere in the Region. The precipitation outlook indicates a higher probability of above normal precipitation for North Dakota and a very small portion of northern South Dakota. Meanwhile, southwestern Colorado has a higher probability of below normal precipitation. 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 cycle (ENSO).  More information about these forecasts can be found here.

Drought Watch

There were some significant changes to the U.S. Drought Monitor over the past month. Due to minimal precipitation over the past two months, the severe drought conditions (D2) in south-central Colorado and west-central Kansas have expanded to include most of eastern Colorado and much of southwestern Kansas. Meanwhile, the moderate drought conditions (D1) in western Kansas expanded north into south-central Nebraska due to low soil moisture levels. Abnormally dry conditions (D0) have also expanded further east in Nebraska as well. Other locations had a reduction or elimination of drought conditions. By the end of the month west-central Wyoming and the western part of the Nebraska panhandle were drought free and the D1 and D0 conditions in eastern Kansas had been trimmed. According to the U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook released March 17th drought conditions across Colorado and Kansas were expected to persist.