Temperatures
March was much warmer than normal at BTV, with average maximum temperatures running 6.3 °F above normal (40.0 °F) and average minimum temperatures 2.0 °F above normal (22.0 °F). This left the mean average temperature of 35.1 °F to be 4.1 °F above the normal March mean temperature of 31.0 °F.
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| (NOAA Regional Climate Centers/xmACIS) |
Although this month's warmth paled in comparison to the scorching March of 2012 (the highest point in the above figure), March 2021 was the 19th warmest March on record at BTV when considering mean daily temperatures. And when we consider mean maximum temperatures, it was the sixth warmest March
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| (NOAA Regional Climate Centers/xmACIS) |
On a daily basis, March 2021was a bit of a roller-coaster month for temperatures at BTV. Our warmest day (the 25th) had a high temperature of 73 °F, and the temperature dropped down to 4 °F on the coldest day (the 2nd). The above figure shows how March temperatures this year took a very upward trajectory throughout the month. On March 11 and March 25, we set daily record high temperatures, at 64 °F and 73 °F, respectively. Also of note is that the temperature never dropped below 0 °F this March. In a normal BTV March, that would occur on 1.3 days.
While the much-above-normal temperatures were most apparent in Northwest Vermont (BTV's location) this March, almost the entire state saw above normal temperatures. The one exception was the Northeast Kingdom, which saw slightly below-normal temperatures.
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| (High Planes Regional Climate Center) |
Precipitation
March 2021 was drier than normal at BTV, as less than half the normal precipitation fell. We received a total of 1.02 inches, when a normal March would have 2.22 inches of precipitation. The figure below gives you a sense of just how dry it was this March. For practically the first 25 days, we saw no rain or snow.
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| (NOAA Regional Climate Centers/xmACIS) |
This March ranked as the 16th driest on record at BTV, and the lack of rain was not only noticed near Vermont's capital - if we look at a map of departure from normal precipitation, a similar story gets told, with the center of the state being the recipients of the least rain and snow when compared to normal.
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| (High Planes Regional Climate Center) |
Snow
Based on the 1981-2010 climate normals, March is BTV's 4th snowiest month, and a normal March would bring 15.8 inches of snow. That certainly was not the case this year, as a measly 1.4 inches of snow fell.
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| (NOAA Regional Climate Centers/xmACIS) |
The above plot shows just how poor the snowfall was when compared to a normal March (brown line) March 2018 (cyan) and March (2017).
The little snow that we did see came at the start of the month. March 3 saw the largest snowfall, with 1.0 inches falling. That brought the BTV snow depth to 9 inches. However, the warm temperatures that we experienced this month quickly decimated the snow pack, and from March 12 onwards, there was no snow on the ground, although we did see a few flakes on March 29.
Recap
This March was characterized by warmth, dryness, and little snow at BTV. The weather put a quick end to winter conditions in Vermont. As we progress further into a the warmer months from a climatological standpoint, it'll be neat to see what the weather has in store.
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