March 2020 Climate Summaries
Mobile Alabama and Pensacola Florida Area
Joe Maniscalco - Meteorologist/Forecaster/Climate Program Lead
National Weather Service Mobile Alabama
April 2, 2020
March 2020 in Review - March opened up the first week with some variability in temperatures, trending well above seasonal normal, with highs lowering to near normal while lows dropped to well below by the end of the first week. Following this was a substantial warming trend through the remainder of the month which saw several record highs by the close of the month and a few record high low temperatures during the middle to latter part of the month. In fact, temperatures across the board for both the Mobile and Pensacola areas ranged some 6 to 11° above normal to the extent that both Mobile and Pensacola saw average monthly temperatures in the top 5 warmest on record. The Pensacola area came in number one, topping the record books for the all time warmest March while Mobile rose to 3rd all time warmest. Not to be left out is precipitation with the rain gauge not reporting an inch of rain the whole month at both Mobile and Pensacola. The month of March for the Mobile area was 7th driest on record, reporting just shy of one inch, while the Pensacola area, at near a half inch, was 4th driest.
Mobile Alabama Area - The average monthly high of 77.8° was 6.6° above normal. The average monthly low was a balmy 58.8° or 9.7° above normal. The average monthly temperature of 68.3° was 8.1° above normal. (Fig. A) shows how the Mobile area temperatures compared to the seasonal normal monthly highs and lows, which are shown by the colored dashed lines. There were four record highs to close out the latter end of the month with one record low high temperature reached during the middle of the month. A table is provided below in the graphics section showing the breakout of the new records. Very little rain was collected. Total rainfall for March (Fig. B) measured 0.97" or 5.17" below normal. The lack of rain for March earned Mobile a spot in the top 10 driest on record at number 7 since records have been kept beginning in 1871. A precipitation trace for the Mobile area is provided in the graphics below showing how it compares to normal year to date totals.
Click on the Mobile Alabama area climate graphics below to expand:
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Pensacola Florida Area - The average monthly high of 78.5° was 8.9°above normal. The average monthly low of 62.1° was 10.9° above normal. The average monthly temperature of 70.3° was 9.9° above normal. (Fig. C) shows how the Pensacola area temperatures compared to the seasonal normal monthly highs and lows, which are shown by the colored dashed lines. There were seven record highs with four record low high temperatures reached. A table is provided below in the graphics section showing the breakout of the new records. The rain gauge at Pensacola was even more starved of precipitation than that of Mobile. Total rainfall for March (Fig. D) measured 0.52" or 5.29" below normal. The dryness for March earned Pensacola a spot in the top 5 driest on record at number 4 since records have been kept beginning in 1879. A precipitation trace for the Pensacola area is provided in the graphics below showing how it compares to normal year to date totals.
Click on the Pensacola Florida area climate graphics below to expand:
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April Climatology and Outlooks:
Similar to that of March, the latest monthly outlook favors a 40 to 50% probability of above normal temperatures over the southeast US to the coastal plain. Hopefully rain will be more favorable this upcoming month as area spring gardens, becoming better established, will need periods of deep watering.
Click on the snap shots below to expand:
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Climate Prediction Center's Interactive Long Range Outlooks
Additional Climate Links:
The links below are intended to provide additional climate information, education and outlooks. The National Weather Service Mobile Alabama's Climate and Past Weather page provides climate data at your fingertips for many observation points in the local forecast area by accessing the NOWData tab as well as many other climate resources. The Climate Prediction Center Link provides short and longer range climatic outlooks and education about the larger scale global circulations that impact temperatures and weather. With the large agriculture and farming presence along the central Gulf coast, the Drought Monitor link provides updates on drought trends and impacts. Another very helpful resource is the Community Collaborative Rain Hail and Snow (CoCoRaHS) network, which is a large group of volunteers working together to measure and map precipitation (rain, hail and snow). The aim of CoCoRaHS is to provide the highest quality data for natural resource, education and research applications. You can be a part of the CoCoRaHS team by becoming a volunteer rainfall observer. To learn more click on the CoCoRaHS link below.
National Weather Service Mobile AL Climate and Past Weather
Climate Prediction Center (CPC)
CoCoRaHS Network Water Year Summaries
Questions or Comments:
Contact: Joe Maniscalco, WFO Mobile, AL at joe.maniscalco@noaa.gov
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