March 2021 Climate Summary

Overview and Graphics
Monthly Summary
Records

Overview and Graphics

March 2021 Climate Review: Temperatures finished above normal by around 4.5 to 6 degrees. Cape Girardeau finished as their 6th warmest March on record while Paducah and Evansville finished 11th and 13th warmest respectively. Paducah and Evansville observed 9 and 8 days above 70 degrees respectively, which was the most in March since 2012.

The month ended up wetter than normal for a large chunk of the region. The areas that received the heaviest amounts compared to normal were northern portions of southeast Missouri, much of southern Illinois, and far southern Kentucky along the Tennessee border. Some of this area received amounts 2 to 4 inches above normal. The only areas that received near to slightly below normal precipitation amounts were across sections of northwest Kentucky and southwest Indiana. With above normal temperatures common, snow was non-existent this March. In Evansville, it was the first March since 2010 that they didn't receive at least a trace of snow.

While severe thunderstorm activity typically starts to ramp up for the spring season in March, it was lacking this year across our area. We only issued 6 severe thunderstorm warnings and no tornado warnings for the month, which was the fewest combined severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings issued in March since 2014. An average March produces around 27 combined warnings for our 58 county forecast area.

The graphic below is an interpolated rainfall map using actual observations. Please note that there are likely discrepancies in between observations, since the values are estimated based on nearest reports.

March 2021 Review: Precipitation and Temperature Maps (Click on image to enlarge)

Climate Maps are from the Northeast Regional Climate Center

Monthly Summary Listings of normals and records for Paducah, Evansville, and Cape Girardeau

Monthly Climate Report: Paducah | Evansville | Cape Girardeau

Records

Record Event Reports: Paducah | Evansville | Cape Girardeau