Back-to-back powerful Pacific storm systems to impact the Pacific Northwest and northern California through the end of this week with heavy rain, flooding, strong winds, and higher elevation mountain snow. A strong, long-duration atmospheric river will accompany the Pacific storms, bringing excessive rainfall and flash flooding to southwest Oregon and northwest California through the week. Read More >
March 2020 finished above average for all, up to as much as 5 degrees for some (highs and lows averaged together over the course of the month). One of the warmest days occurred early on, when Pierre set a daily record high of 79 degrees on the 7th (69 in 2006). For comparison, the all-time March high temperature in Pierre is 88 degrees, set on the 18th in 2012.
Despite a few moderate snow events across portions of Central South Dakota, the area finished well below average both in terms of snow and overall moisture. This was particularly the case across north central/northeastern South Dakota and west central Minnesota where some finished the month with more than an inch less moisture than is typical. With just 0.16” of total moisture, Aberdeen tied for their 6th driest March on record; with 0.08”, Mobridge recorded their 4th driest March; with 0.11”, Sisseton recorded their 4th driest March; and with 0.02”, Wheaton recorded their driest March on record (0.05” in 1923). Amazingly, Watertown picked up more moisture in two hours from 7pm to 9pm on April 1st (0.82”) than during all of March (0.64”). Similarly, Sisseton picked up about 10 times as much moisture in the first two days of April (0.99”) than during the whole month of March (0.11”). As for snow, the area received anywhere from 2 to 8” less snowfall than is typical. Some recorded next to no snow. With just 0.4” of total snow this March, Aberdeen received their 7th least amount on record; with a trace, Wheaton tied for 4th least; with a trace, Mobridge tied for 3rd least, and with a trace, Sisseton tied for 2nd least on record. As bad as the spring flooding has been in some areas, such a dry and warm month was a more than welcome outcome.
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March 2020 |
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Temperature Data |
Aberdeen |
Sisseton |
Wheaton |
Watertown |
|
Warmest Temperature / Date |
66 / 30th |
59 / 30th |
63 / 30th |
61 / 30th |
|
Coldest Temperature / Date |
9 / 20th |
8 / 20th |
11 / 21st |
8 / 20th |
|
Average High / Departure from Normal |
43.8 / +3.8 |
41.9 / +2.6 |
44.3 / +7.5 |
41.5 / +2.6 |
|
Average Low / Departure from Normal |
24.1 / +4.3 |
23.1 / +2.3 |
28.1 / +10.1 |
22.9 / +3.0 |
|
Monthly Average / Departure from Normal |
33.9 / +4.0 |
32.5 / +2.5 |
36.2 / +8.8 |
32.2 / +2.8 |
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Precipitation Data |
|
|
|
|
|
Monthly Precipitation / Departure from Normal |
0.16 / -1.00 |
0.11 / -1.01 |
0.02 / -1.46 |
0.64 / -0.47 |
|
Most Precipitation in 24 hours / Date |
0.03 / 10th, 25th |
0.03 / 18th |
0.02 / 12th |
0.30 / 25th |
|
Monthly Snowfall / Departure from Normal |
0.4 / -6.8 |
T / -8.3 |
T / -8.3 |
0.8 / -5.4 |
|
Most Snow in 24 hours / Date |
0.4 / 10th |
T /5,10,16,21 |
T / 10, 11, 22 |
0.7 / 25th |
|
Temperature Data |
Pierre |
Kennebec |
Mobridge |
Timber Lake |
|
Warmest Temperature / Date |
79 / 7th |
80 / 7th |
70 / 30th |
67 / 7th |
|
Coldest Temperature / Date |
8 / 20th |
10 / 20th |
7 / 20th |
5 / 20th |
|
Average High / Departure from Normal |
50.3 / +4.9 |
53.6 / +5.7 |
47.8 / +5.2 |
47.4 / +4.2 |
|
Average Low / Departure from Normal |
25.4 / +1.9 |
27.5 / +4.1 |
25.1 / +4.0 |
24.4 / +2.9 |
|
Monthly Average / Departure from Normal |
37.9 / +3.5 |
40.6 / +4.9 |
36.5 / +4.6 |
35.9 / +3.5 |
|
Precipitation Data |
|
|
|
|
|
Monthly Precipitation / Departure from Normal |
0.72 / -0.51 |
0.89 / -0.37 |
0.08 / -0.82 |
1.01 / -0.14 |
|
Most Precipitation in 24 hours / Date |
0.20 / 25th |
0.33 / 28th |
0.03 / 25th |
0.75 / 10th |
|
Monthly Snowfall / Departure from Normal |
4.1 / -1.9 |
5.3 / -2.7 |
T / -5.9 |
3.4 / -4.2 |
|
Most Snow in 24 hours / Date |
1.7 / 14th |
3.8 / 14th |
T / 10,14-16,19,25 |
2.0 / 25th |
Overall temperature departure for March 2020, from the Midwestern Regional Climate Center
Precipitation totals (left) and departures (right) for March 2020, from the Midwestern Regional Climate Center
Snowfall totals (left) and departures (right) for March 2020, from the Midwestern Regional Climate Center
The Accumulated Winter Season Severity Index as of the beginning of April, from the Midwestern Regional Climate Center. Aberdeen and Watertown has experienced a "Severe" cold season while Pierre experienced an "Average" one to this point in 2019-2020.
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