March 2008 Climate Summary

Region Breakdown

March 2008 was an active month for precipitation and temperature in the High Plains region. Temperatures averaged near-Normal for the region with the exception of warmer than Normal temperature (between 2-4 degrees F above) for NW South Dakota and western North Dakota, and cooler than Normal average temperature for portions of the Colorado and Wyoming Rockies (4-8 degrees F below) and Eastern Nebraska, Eastern South Dakota and Eastern Kansas (2-4 degrees F below).

The areas with near-Normal or above Normal temperatures received between 25-50% of Normal precipitation (Central High Plains), while the areas with cooler than normal temperatures (Eastern Nebraska, Eastern South Dakota, Eastern Kansas and areas west of the Continental Divide) ranged from near-Normal to 200% of Normal total precipitation for March 2008.

Drought conditions persisted over areas of Western North Dakota and Western South Dakota as the area received only 10-50% of Normal Total Precipitation. During the same time period, the Drought Monitor categorization was degraded from a D2 to a D3 for this area. SW Nebraska/NW Kansas also saw a Drought Monitor categorization change from D0 to D1 during the month of March.

Precipitation Summary

While March 2008 was storm filled for areas southeast of the High Plains Region (Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana), the High Plains region was not nearly as moist. Snows brought moisture to the Colorado and Wyoming Rockies, with near Normal total precipitation amounts (90 - 130% of normal) for most locations. Some locations reported near two times Normal of total precipitation within the Rockies, such as Leadville Lake County Airport (1.80 inches/45mm, 191% of Normal), Shell, WY (1.58 inches/ 40mm, 268% of Normal) and Moose, WY (3.66 inches/92mm, 222% of Normal).

Dry conditions persisted for much of North Dakota, Central South Dakota and Nebraska, and Western Kansas, with less than 50% of Normal precipitation for most locations.

Three systems brought much of the precipitation for the high plains, one occuring the 6th/7th with the same system that brough severe weather to much of Missouri, Arkansas and much of the midwest, the 17th/18th, with precipitation in SE Kansas and the other on the 27th-31st.

On the 6th/7th of March, a system consisting primarily of snow for much of the High Plains passed through as a strong cold front moved accross the region. This brough some precipitation amounts (<0.25 inches/6mm) to parts of Central and Eastern Nebraska, the Blackhills of South Dakota, and up through the High Plains of Wyoming.

On March 13th, rain associated with a warm front drapped over South Dakota brought precip to much of the eastern half of the state and portions of SE North Dakota.
Starting March 14th, shortwaves from a larger system moved through the region, starting with precipitation within the mountains of Colorado and Wyoming (Yellowstone Area), and bringing larger amounts of precipitation to NE Kansas and SE Nebraska. On the 17th, the main system finally passed through the region bringing precip (<0.75 inches/20mm) to Western Kansas and more significant amounts of preciptation (~1.5inches/~38mm) to SE Kansas on the 18th.
On March 30-31, parts of Nebraska recieved their first hard rain of 2008, with amounts of up to 1 inch (25.4 mm).

Climate Outlook

With La Nina ENSO conditions driving the forecast for the remainder of the boreal spring, NOAA forecasters call for above-average temperatures and dryer than normal conditions for much of the southwest corner of the High Plains (namely, Colorado). This winter outlook is produced by scientists at the NOAA Climate Prediction Center. More information can be found here: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/.

Drought Watch

Drought conditions persist over areas of Western North Dakota and Western South Dakota, with a categorization change from D2 to D3 during the month of March. SW Nebraska/NW Kansas also saw a Drought Monitor categorization change from D0 to D1 during this time period. Portions of North Dakota experienced categorical improvement, and more improvement is expected through May of 2008, according to the U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook released April 3. Drought conditions are expected to further develop across Western Kansas and into SW Nebraska and SE Colorado through May 2008.

State Spotlight - North Dakota - Submitted by Barb Mullins, North Dakota State Climate Office, North Dakota State University

The state average precipitation was 0.36 inches which is below the 1971-2000 normal of 0.80 inches. March marks the 9th straight month in a row in which the state average precipitation was below the 1971-2000 normal. The north central part of the state had less than 25% of normal precipitation. The greatest majority of the state had half of normal precipitation. The highest amounts were in the south central and eastern edge with 70 to 80% of normal precipitation. The U.S. drought monitor has the eastern half of North Dakota listed as abnormally dry and the majority of the western half of the state as extreme drought. March 2008 state average precipitation ranked 18th driest in the last 114 years with a maximum of 2.72” in 1902 and a minimum of 0.09” in 1930.

The coldest daily temperatures were between the 4th and the 9th of March in which eastern and northern areas fell to teens and twenty degrees below zero. Following this cold streak the daily average temperatures across the state were in the upper 20’s and 30’s most days with some days at near 40 degrees plus. March average monthly temperatures ranged from close to 1 degree above normal in the western third of the state to 1 to 2 degrees below normal in the central third. The eastern third of the state had monthly average temperatures from 2 to nearly 6 (on the eastern edge) degrees below the 1971-2000 normal. The state average air temperature was 26.7 °F which is nearly right on the 1971-2000 normal of 26.9 °F. March 2008 state average air temperature ranked 75th coolest (or 40th warmest) in the past 114 years with a maximum of 40.7 ° F in 1910 and a minimum of 6.9 ° F in 1899.