The month of March in Denver is typically known for its snow and corresponding chilly temperatures.  That however was certainly not the case for March 2012 as the Mile High City saw one of its warmest and driest Marches on record.

From the start of the month to the end, March’s temperatures were well above normal.  While we would normally see days with temperatures in the 50s, we instead saw 70s and even a couple of 80+ degree days.

The historical overall average temperature for the month of March is 40.4 degrees (based on 1981 to 2010 normals).  March 2012’s average of 49.2 degrees was an astonishing 8.8 degrees above normal.

This sends the month into the record books as the second warmest March ever recorded in Denver.  The number one spot is held by March 1910 which saw an average of 50.4 degrees.

Here in Thornton, we were actually slightly warmer than the official Denver measuring station at DIA.  Our monthly average temperature came in at 49.6 degrees.

Individually, six days set or tied high temperature records for Denver:

• 74 degrees on March 13 which tied the old record of 74 set in 2007 and previous years
• 75 degrees on March 16 which broke the old record of 74 set just one year ago in 2011
• 76 degrees on March 17 which broke the old record of 75 set in 1974
• 76 degrees on March 23 which tied the old record of 76 set in 1967
• 75 degrees on March 25 which tied the old record of 75 set in 1998 and previous years
• 81 degrees on March 31 which broke the old record of 80 set in 1946

In terms of precipitation, March 2012 will now hold the marks for the driest and least snowiest on record.

The rain bucket at Denver International Airport saw a mere 0.03 inch of liquid precipitation.  This was far below the average of 0.92 inch and easily puts March 2012 into the books as the number one driest March on record.  The previous record holder was 1908 when 0.11 inch was recorded.

March is historically Denver’s snowiest month averaging 10.7 inches.  This year the month only brought a trace of snow on three days.  The previous least snowiest March occurred in 1883 when 0.3 inch of the white stuff was recorded.

Just like Denver, Thornton saw an extraordinary lack of snow and precipitation.  We as well recorded 0.03 inch of precipitation but we did manage to record 0.40 inch of snow, all on the morning of the 2nd.

Click here to view the March 2012 climate summary for Thornton.

CLIMATE REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOULDER, CO
1026 AM MDT SUN APR 1 2012

................................... 

...THE DENVER CO CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH 2012... 

CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1981 TO 2010
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1872 TO 2012

WEATHER         OBSERVED          NORMAL  DEPART  LAST YEAR`S
                 VALUE   DATE(S)  VALUE   FROM    VALUE  DATE(S)
                                          NORMAL
................................................................ 
TEMPERATURE (F)
RECORD
 HIGH              84   03/26/1971
 LOW              -11   03/28/1886
HIGHEST            81   03/31        84      -3       76  03/21
LOWEST             16   03/02       -11      27       14  03/05
AVG. MAXIMUM     65.5              54.4    11.1     58.7
AVG. MINIMUM     32.9              26.4     6.5     27.8
MEAN             49.2              40.4     8.8     43.3
DAYS MAX >= 90      0               0.0     0.0        0
DAYS MAX <= 32      0               1.9    -1.9        1
DAYS MIN <= 32     14              23.6    -9.6       24
DAYS MIN <= 0       0               0.1    -0.1        0

PRECIPITATION (INCHES)
RECORD
 MAXIMUM         4.56   1983
 MINIMUM         0.11   1908
TOTALS           0.03R             0.92   -0.89     0.35
DAILY AVG.       0.00              0.03   -0.03     0.01
DAYS >= .01         2               5.9    -3.9        8
DAYS >= .10         0               2.4    -2.4        1
DAYS >= .50         0               0.3    -0.3        0
DAYS >= 1.00        0               0.1    -0.1        0
GREATEST
 24 HR. TOTAL    0.03   03/01 TO 03/02           03/28 TO 03/28
                                                          03/28 TO 03/28
                                                          03/28 TO 03/28
 STORM TOTAL       MM                                 MM
 (MM/DD(HH))            MM                    03/28(00) TO 03/28(00)
                                                 03/28(00) TO 03/28(00)8
                                                 03/28(00) TO 03/28(00)8

SNOWFALL (INCHES)
RECORDS
 TOTAL             MM   5
TOTALS              T               11.7

DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL     483               763    -280      666
 SINCE 7/1       4863              5202    -339     4817
COOLING TOTAL       0                 0       0        0
 SINCE 1/1          0                 0       0        0

FREEZE DATES
RECORD
 EARLIEST     09/08/1962
 LATEST       06/08/2007
EARLIEST                        10/07
LATEST                          05/05
......................................................... 

WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED              11.5
RESULTANT WIND SPEED/DIRECTION   5/203
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION    46/180    DATE  03/18
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION    58/190    DATE  03/18

SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT)   MM
AVERAGE SKY COVER           0.50
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR            9
NUMBER OF DAYS PC             20
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY          2

AVERAGE RH (PERCENT)     34

WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORM              0     MIXED PRECIP               0
HEAVY RAIN                0     RAIN                       0
LIGHT RAIN                0     FREEZING RAIN              0
LT FREEZING RAIN          1     HAIL                       0
HEAVY SNOW                0     SNOW                       0
LIGHT SNOW                2     SLEET                      0
FOG                       2     FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE      0
HAZE                      3

-  INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R  INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T  INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.

$$