March Lion Roared Through Snow & Cold

March came in like a lion and went out ... like a lion! February was the coldest month on record, but March was almost as harsh. In fact, it was much colder and snowier than normal. The average daily temperature last month at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford was 33.9 degrees, which was a whopping 5.4 degrees below normal. In addition, more than a foot-and-a-half (18.6") of snow fell, which was more than three times the 5.1 inch normal for the month. Yes, it was a month that will not soon be forgotten.

Twenty-three of the 31 days in March were colder-than-normal, including seven days which were at least 10 degrees below normal. In fact, there were only five days with an average temperature above normal. Nine of the first ten days last month were at least 10 degrees colder-than-normal, extending a streak which began January 25.

There were 12 days with at least a trace of snow, with the jackpots of 6.2 inches March 1 and 5.3 inches March 20. Four inches of snow fell March 5. Four of the first five days of March featured at least a trace of snow as well as the last four days of the month. The snow depth reached a height of 18 inches March 2 and 6, and it still remained at 12 inches as late as March 10.

The Vernal Equinox snowstorm brought nearly a half-foot of snow to the region for much of Friday, March 20. The snow began just after noon, and continued falling through the Equinox at 6:45 p.m. EDT.
                            

March also had nearly five inches (4.72") of liquid precipitation, well above the 4.05" normal for the month. Seventeen days saw measured precipitation, including the first five days of the month (2.26"). A trace of precipitation was recorded three days, bringing the total number of days last month with at least a trace of precipitation to 20. That's just about two out of every three days!

Paul