Albuquerque, NM

Weather Forecast Office

March 2016 Monthly Highlights - Wx Highlights

March 2016 was much drier and warmer than normal across nearly all of New Mexico .

The first 11 days of the month were mostly dry with above normal temperatures across all of New Mexico. Finally a small, but potent storm delivered rain and mountain snow showers on the 12th, as well as a few thunderstorms. But the dry conditions returned for the rest of the month, aside from a light to moderate snow event in the northeast on the 26th. Two long duration high wind events impacted New Mexico from the 21-23 and 28-30. Snow began to fall over northern New Mexico late on the 31st.

March: Much Below Normal Precipitation; Two Long Duration High Wind Events

Much of New Mexico experienced little or no precipitation during March 2016 (as indicated by the percent of normal precipitation graph above). There were only two storms that delivered light to moderate snowfall. The first was on the 12th with light snow over the northern and central mountains and adjacent higher terrain. The second was on the 26th and impacted the northern mountains and northeast with light to moderate snow. High winds were more of an issue with long duration events from March 21-23 and 28-30.

Temperature and precipitation data, with comparisons to normals

Albuquerque

Records set in March 2016:

6th: Record high minimum temperature: 50
22nd: record high maximum temperature: 77 T

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The average temperature for Albuquerque in March 2016 was 51.5°, which was 3.4 degrees above the normal of 48.1°. This was the 11th warmest March on record since 1892.

The average maximum temperature was 66.2°. This was 5.7 degrees above the normal average maximum temperature of 60.5°

The average minimum temperature was 36.8°. This was 1.1 degrees above the normal average minimum temperature of 35.7°.

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There was only a trace of precipitation at the Sunport in March 2016, compared to the normal of 0.57 inches. This ties 10 other March's for the driest on record.

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There was just a trace of snow in March 2016, while normal is 1.1 inches.

Temperature and precipitation data, with comparisons to normals

Clayton

Records:

21st: Record high maximum temperature: 82

22nd: Record high maximum temperature 81

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The average temperature for Clayton in March 2016 was 48.0°, which was 3.8 degrees above the normal of 44.2°.

The average maximum temperature was 63.7°. This was 5.2 degrees above the normal average maximum temperature of 58.5°.

The average minimum temperature was 32.2°. This was 2.2 degrees above the normal average minimum temperature of 30.0°.

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There was 0.19 inches of precipitation in March 2016, compared to the the normal of 0.95 inches.

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There was 1.6 inches of snow in March 2016, compared to the normal of 6.3 inches.

Temperature and precipitation data, with comparisons to normals

Roswell

Records in March 2016:

22nd: daily maximum temperature: 87 Tied

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The average temperature for Roswell in March 2016 was 55.8°, which was 3.2 degrees above the normal of 52.6 degrees.

The average maximum temperature was 73.6°. This was 5.3 degrees above the average maximum temperature of 68.3 degrees.

The average minimum temperature was 38.0°. This was 1.1 degrees above the normal average minimum temperature of 36.9°.

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There wasonly a trace of precipitation in March 2016 compared to the normal of 0.51 inches.

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There was no snow in March 2016, compared to a normal of 1.2 inches.

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