Sunday, April 1, 2012

March 2012 was the warmest March in Memphis history

The table below lists the Top 10 warmest March months at Memphis, TN since records began back in the 1880s.  As the month ended, the average temperature for March 2012 was 64.8 degrees, which ranks as the warmest month of March in recorded history. Besides Memphis, other regional cities, including Jackson, TN, Tupelo, MS, and Jonesboro, AR, also ended with their warmest March on record!

A few other interesting climate facts for March 2012:

  • 27 days had "above normal" average temperatures
  • 18 days had average temperatures at least 10 degrees above normal
  • 6 daily temperature records were either tied or broken
  • The previous warmest March was over 2 degrees cooler than 2012 (typically the warmest months are tenths of degrees apart - 2012 wasn't even close!)
  • As of March 31, our average temperature for 2012 (Jan-Mar) is also 1.3 degrees higher than the previous record warm year (1907) and 6.8 degrees above normal

TOP 10 WARMEST MARCH MONTHS
RankAvg Temp Year Departure
1 64.8 2012 +10.8
2 62.5 2007 +8.5
3 62.1 1907 +8.1
4 61.9 1910 +7.9
5 61.4 1921 +7.4
6 60.5 1938 +6.5
7 60.1 1945 +6.1
8 59.6 1908 +5.6
9 59.5 1878 +5.5
10 59.4 1946 +5.4

The spring outlook (below) indicates a likelihood of continued above normal temperatures for both the month of April and the 3-month period of April-May-June, according to NOAA/Climate Prediction Center.

April outlook from CPC calls for a 40% chance of above normal temperatures (27% chance of below normal)

April-May-June outlook from CPC calls for a ~50% chance of above normal temperatures (17% chance of below normal)
----
For weather information for Memphis and the Mid-South, where and when you need it, visit MemphisWeather.net on the web, m.memphisweather.net on your mobile phone, download our iPhone or Android apps, or visit us on Facebook or Twitter.

No comments: