Hastings, NE

Weather Forecast Office

March 2017: Precipitation/Temperature Summary For Our 30-County Coverage Area (South Central NE/North Central KS)

Overview:

Recap of March 2017 for the NWS Hastings Coverage Area:
Precipitation: More than anything else, the month will be most remembered for being very dry through the first 3+ weeks, before some VERY much-needed rain finally arrived during the final 5-10 days. For the month as a whole, most of the 30-county area fell solidly short of normal precipitation, but even so, most places ended up receiving at least 60% of normal March values. However, a pocket of central and eastern counties in South Central Nebraska (including Grand Island) received less than half of normal March precipitation. On the flip side, localized portions of both the extreme northern local area (such as Ord) and also the extreme south (such as Beloit and Plainville KS) ended up with near-to-slightly above normal totals. Continuing a trend from previous months, most of the local area saw very little if any snowfall. In fact, as of the end of March, Grand Island had received merely 8.9" for the entire cold season, marking the 3rd-least snowy season on record!

Temperatures: While far from record territory, most of the area averaged 2-4° above normal for the month as a whole. There were not really any prolonged streaks of notable heat or cold, but instead typical alternating periods of warmer and cooler readings.

Several Grassfires: Prior to the arrival of the late-month rains, very dry and warm/breezy conditions early in the month set the stage for several grassfires across various parts of the area. The 6th featured one of the most serious grassfire days seen in roughly 5 years, as very low relative humidity combined with very strong westerly winds gusting 50-60 MPH to spark a number of wildfires, including a particularly large and longer-lasting one near Stockton KS.

First Severe Storms: The evening of the 23rd featured the first severe thunderstorms of 2017 within the local area, highlighted by a swath of damaging winds up to 60-70 MPH that raked across counties such as Furnas/Phelps/Buffalo/Hall/Hamilton, among some others.

This information in this story focuses on climate and weather highlights across the NWS Hastings coverage area, encompassing 24 counties in south central/central Nebraska, and 6 counties in north central Kansas. Click here for a map of this coverage area. The temperature and precipitation data presented here are largely based on the NWS Cooperative Observer network, along with data from a handful of automated airport sites. All climate averages and "normals" presented here are based on the official NCEI 1981-2010 normals.

2017 Nebraska Cooperative Observer Precipitation Tables (around 45 sites)
2017 Kansas Cooperative Observer Precipitation Tables (around 18 sites)
(for the 2017 tables, data for the previous month usually gets updated by around the 15th of the current month)

2016 Nebraska Cooperative Observer Precipitation Tables (around 45 sites)
2016 Kansas Cooperative Observer Precipitation Tables (around 18 sites)

(BE SURE TO CLICK THE VARIOUS TABS BELOW FOR A VARIETY OF MARCH 2017 CLIMATE INFORMATION!)

This graphic features a precipitation map for March 2017, along with a partial listing of totals from official NWS stations. (Click image to enlarge)

G. I./Hastings Details
Kearney
Ord
Smith Center, KS
Temp/Precip Departure From Normal
Drought Monitor
Local Extremes

Grand Island & Hastings Details (Including 12-Month History):

Detailed March 2017 info for Grand Island/Hastings
(Click to enlarge)


Grand Island Precipitation Summary: The green line indicates cumulative observed precipitation for March 2017.The brown line indicates "normal" March precipitation based on 30-year data from 1981-2010. (click to enlarge)	Hastings Precipitation Summary: The green line indicates cumulative observed precipitation for March 2017. The brown line indicates "normal" March precipitation based on 30-year data from 1981-2010. (click to enlarge)

Grand Island (Regional Airport) - April 2016 - March 2017

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sep.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Average High (F)

64.4

71.9

89.6

87.0

84.4

78.8

70.7

57.3

37.3

34.6

50.8

54.4

Average Low (F)

40.4

48.5

63.2

65.1

62.7

55.0

42.6

32.7

14.5

17.9

24.8

30.0

Average Temperature (F)

52.4

60.2

76.4

76.0

73.5

66.9

56.7

45.0

25.9

26.3

37.8

42.2

Departure From Normal

+1.8

-1.0

+5.1

-0.2

-0.5

+1.8

+4.5

+6.9

-0.8

+1.2

+8.7

+2.8

Precipitation (in)

5.05

6.84

0.05

4.10

0.57

2.53

0.12

1.37

0.81

1.07

0.25

0.81

Departure From Normal

+2.52

+2.43

-4.25

+0.70

-2.55

+0.30

-1.74

+0.20

+0.18

+0.54

-0.43

-0.99

Snowfall (in)

0.0

0.4

1.4

2.4

3.5

1.2

Departure From Normal

-1.5

0.0

-0.1

-1.0

-2.7

-3.7

-4.1

-2.8

-4.2

Hastings (Municipal Airport) - April 2016 - March 2017

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sep.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Average High (F)

64.6

71.0

89.1

87.7

84.9

78.6

71.3

57.4

37.7

35.7

51.4

55.4

Average Low (F)

41.0

48.9

64.0

66.0

63.4

56.1

44.0

34.2

15.6

19.4

25.8

31.3

Average Temperature (F)

52.8

59.9

76.5

76.9

74.1

67.3

57.6

45.8

26.6

27.6

38.6

43.4

Departure From Normal (F)

+2.1

-1.4

+4.7

-0.2

+1.7

+5.0

+7.1

-1.0

+1.6

+8.7

+3.5

Precipitation (in)

5.69

3.68

0.75

2.22

1.77

1.80

0.22

1.46

0.61

0.83

0.27

1.08

Departure From Normal (in)

+3.13

-0.89

-3.05

-1.52

-1.53

-0.76

-1.77

+0.17

0.00

+0.42

-0.22

-0.71

Snowfall (in)

0.0

0.1

1.0

3.7

4.3

1.2

Departure From Normal (in)

-1.2

0.0

-0.2

-1.0

-2.5

-5.1

-2.3

-2.2

-4.0

Kearney - 12 Month Climate History:

All data here is from the official NWS observer at Kearney airport, with 24-hour observations taken around 7 a.m. ** PLEASE NOTE: This official Kearney data differs somewhat from the unofficial data presented by the automated airport system (KEAR) **

Kearney Airport (Coop Observer) - April 2016 - March 2017

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sep.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Average High (F)

63.2

69.5

87.4

86.4

84.3

79.3

70.8

58.6

37.8

36.9

50.0

54.6

Average Low (F)

39.5

46.6

61.7

63.4

61.8

53.0

40.8

33.4

14.8

19.5

24.1

28.6

Average Temperature (F)

51.4

58.1

74.6

74.9

73.1

66.2

55.8

46.0

26.3

28.2

37.1

41.6

Departure From Normal (F)

+2.7

+1.4

+4.8

+0.2

+0.5

+2.7

+4.9

+9.0

+0.4

+3.6

+9.0

+3.9

Precipitation (in)

8.39

2.30

0.61

3.38

1.47

1.20

0.12

1.56

0.90

0.30

1.63

Departure From Normal (in)

+6.16

-1.88

-3.32

+0.10

-1.61

-0.87

-1.92

+0.54

+0.33

+0.41

-0.25

-0.16

Snowfall (in)

0.0

0.2

1.0

4.5

5.2

0.7

Departure From Normal (in)

-1.8

0.0

-0.2

-0.7

-2.9

-2.5

+0.1

-3.9

Ord - 12 Month Climate History:

Winter precipitation totals often include NWS Cooperative Observer data due to the automated airport equipment under-measuring snowfall liquid equivalent.

Ord (Evelyn Sharp Field Airport) - April 2016 - March 2017

April

May

June

July

Aug.

Sep.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Average High (F)

61.7

71.1

86.8

85.2

83.6

77.2

70.3

56.7

37.6

34.1

48.4

53.7

Average Low (F)

38.7

45.7

MSG

62.3

60.4

MSG

37.4

28.1

9.3

14.2

19.8

28.7

Average Temperature (F)

50.2

58.4

MSG

73.8

72.0

MSG

53.8

42.4

23.5

24.1

34.1

41.2

Departure From Normal (F)

+1.4

-0.9

MSG

-0.6

-1.0

MSG

+4.2

+6.1

-1.4

-0.5

+6.3

+3.5

Precipitation (in)

8.99

5.05

3.52

6.66

0.44

1.70

0.09

1.26

0.41

1.15

0.79

1.83

Departure From Normal (in)

+6.40

+1.24

-0.60

+3.69

-2.72

-0.74

-1.84

+0.19

-0.18

+0.78

+0.35

+0.38

Snowfall (in)

Trace

0.0

3.0

2.7

11.9

10.4

1.9

Departure From Normal (in)

-2.5

0.0

-1.1

-2.3

-4.7

+5.1

+4.4

-4.0

Smith Center, KS - 12 Month Climate History:

All data is from the official NWS observer, with 24-hour observations taken around 7 a.m. As a result, data may vary slightly from true "Calendar Day" totals.

Smith Center KS (NWS Coop Observer) - April 2016 - March 2017

April

May

June

July

Aug.

Sep.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Average High (F)

67.3

72.7

91.7

90.5

86.5

81.3

73.9

61.0

38.7

39.0

53.4

58.5

Average Low (F)

39.3

48.6

63.0

66.1

62.8

55.6

43.5

32.9

14.2

18.5

24.2

30.2

Average Temperature (F)

53.3

60.7

77.4

78.3

74.7

68.5

58.7

47.0

26.5

28.7

38.8

44.4

Departure From Normal (F)

+0.8

-3.7

+3.4

-1.4

-2.5

+0.3

+3.9

+6.6

-2.3

+1.0

+6.8

+2.8

Precipitation (in)

5.40

4.38

3.11

6.07

5.13

5.07

0.09

0.99

0.56

1.46

0.27

1.26

Departure From Normal (in)

+3.13

+0.46

-0.50

+2.20

+1.83

+3.03

-1.79

-0.23

-0.10

+0.97

-0.31

-0.61

Snowfall (in)

0.0

3.1

1.1

1.8

0.2

Departure From Normal (in)

-0.6

0.0

-0.2

-0.4

-1.8

-0.1

-2.6

-2.3

-2.4

Area Temperature & Precipitation Departure From Normal Maps:

These images depict March 2017 monthly temperature departure from normal & precipitation percent-of-normal for both Nebraska & Kansas. Images are courtesy of the High Plains Regional Climate Center (HPRCC). Click images to enlarge.


Departure from Normal Temperature - NE (left) & KS (right)		Percent of Normal Precipitation - NE (left) & KS (right)

Drought:

The following drought images, current as of March 28, 2017, are courtesy of the U.S. Drought Monitor

Brief summary of changes since one month ago for the NWS Hastings coverage area:
Because most of the month (up until the last few days) featured very dry conditions for much of the southern two-thirds of the local area (especially south of Interstate 80), the coverage of Abnormally Dry (category D0) was expanded eastward to include all of far South Central Nebraska and also eastern portions of North Central Kansas. Meanwhile, appreciable rain that fell March 23rd-24th in northern portions of the local Nebraska area actually resulted in the removal of D0 across most/all counties such as Valley/Greeley/Howard/Sherman. Finally, as has been the case for months now, there remains a small area of Moderate Drought (D1) hanging on primarily within Kearney County (largely a holdover from the very dry conditions during summer 2016).


Drought Monitor for Nebraska (left) & Kansas (right). Valid as of March 28, 2017 (click to enlarge)

Monthly Extremes for the NWS Hastings Coverage Area:

...A FEW OF THE WARMEST HIGH TEMPERATURES DURING MARCH 2017...
(all data from NWS cooperative observers and occurred on the 19th)
94 degrees...2SW Alton KS
93 degrees...Beaver City
92 degrees...Edison
91 degrees...Cambridge - 6NNW Oxford

...A FEW OF THE COLDEST LOW TEMPERATURES DURING MARCH 2017...
(all data from NWS cooperative observers or automated airport sites and occurred on the 13th)
11 degrees...2W Genoa
12 degrees...Gothenburg - 6NNW Oxford
13 degrees...6SSE Lexington (Canaday Plant) - Holdrege - Greeley
14 degrees...Cambridge - Kearney airport - Lexington airport- Ord airport - Ravenna - Loup City

...A FEW OF THE HIGHEST MONTHLY PRECIPITATION TOTALS DURING MARCH 2017...
(all data from NWS cooperative observers or automated airport sites, unless specified)
2.50"...6W Elyria (NeRAIN observer)
2.48"...Gothenburg
2.39"...Hubbell
2.12"...Cozad
1.98"...Ravenna

...A FEW OF THE LOWEST MONTHLY PRECIPITATION TOTALS DURING MARCH 2017...
(all data from NWS cooperative observers or automated airport sites, unless specified)
0.81"...Grand Island airport
0.90"...4N Aurora
0.93"...Edison - 8S Elwood
0.95"...6SSE Lexington (Canaday Plant)
0.97"...Geneva

...A FEW OF THE HIGHEST MONTHLY SNOWFALL TOTALS DURING MARCH 2017...
(all data from NWS cooperative observers, unless specified)
2.0"...Polk - 4S Shickley - 2SW Alton KS
1.9"...Ord
1.8"...Miller
1.7"...St. Paul
1.5"...Covert KS

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