NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information
During March, above-average temperatures were observed in the Southwest, Central Rockies, Southern Plains, and parts of the Upper Midwest and New England. Below-average temperatures were present across the Northern Plains and for much of the East Coast with near-average conditions across the West, Central Plains, Midwest and Southeast. Above-average precipitation fell across the West, Northern Plains and parts of the Midwest with below-average precipitation in the Southwest, Central Plains and parts of the Midwest and East Coast. An active-storm pattern brought beneficial snow to large parts of the West during March, mostly missing the Southern Rockies, and keeping snow cover across the Northern Rockies and Plains. At least four strong winter storms impacted the Midwest and Northeast during the month, also boosting the monthly snow cover. Many locations in the East had more snow during March than the preceding winter months combined. Numerous cities, including Philadelphia, Albany, and Boston had a March snowfall total that ranked among the five highest on record.
According to NOAA's National Snow Analysis, on March 1 st, 34.3 percent of the contiguous U.S. had snow on the ground — the high elevations in the Northwest, much of the Central and Northern Rockies stretching into the adjacent Northern Plains, Upper Midwest and Northeast. By the end of March, partially due to the seasonal warming and increased solar angle, the snow coverage dropped to 18.0 percent of the Lower 48 having snow on the ground. Snow was observed for the highest elevations across the West, the Northern Plains, Upper Midwest, and northern areas of the Northeast.
According to NOAA data analyzed by the Rutgers Global Snow Lab, the monthly snow cover across the contiguous U.S. was 1.04 million square miles, 303,860 square miles above the 1981-2010 average and ranked as the sixth highest value in the 52-year period of record. This was the highest March snow cover extent since 1979. Above-average snow cover was observed across parts of the West, Northern Rockies, Northern Plains, Midwest and Northeast. Below-average snow cover was observed in parts of the Southern Rockies, Central Plains and Great Lakes.
Melting of winter and spring mountain snowpack provides a crucial summer water source across much of the western United States. The total annual water budget for agriculture and human use in the mountainous West is highly dependent on the amount of snow melt that will occur in spring and is proportional to the amount of snow on the ground. On April 1st, the typical snowpack peak in many western U.S. locations, below-average snowpack, in some instances less than 25 percent of normal, was observed in the southern Cascades, Great Basin and Southern Rockies. Above-average snowpack was observed in the northern Cascades and Northern Rockies with totals more than 180 percent of normal in parts of Idaho, Montana, Washington and Wyoming. Near- to below-average snowpack was observed in the Sierra Nevada Mountains Central Rockies. In the Sierra Nevada Mountains, heavy precipitation during March helped to boost the peak snowpack after very low snowpack during earlier periods of the cold season. In Alaska, below-average snowpack was observed across southern parts of the state with much-above-average snowpack for interior locations.
Significant Events
During March, there were four nor'easters that impacted the East Coast and parts of the Midwest. These storm systems brought heavy snow, strong winds and coastal flooding from the Carolinas to Maine. The total snowfall for many locations was greater during March than the preceding winter months combined with the monthly snowfall total also ranking among the five highest totals for numerous cities. Boston received 23.3 inches of snow during the month, the fourth highest March total since records began in 1891 and most since 1993. Philadelphia received 15.2 inches of snow, the second highest total in a period of record that began in 1885. The record highest was 17.7 inches in 1941. Albany had its third highest March snowfall total with 36.0 inches, the most since 1916. We have reliable records for Albany back to 1885. Of the four nor'easters, the one that impacted the East Coast March 1st–3rd, caused the most damage. Total losses during the event exceeded $1.8 billion and caused at least nine fatalities. The heavy snow, strong winds, and heavy coastal erosion contributed to the high cost of damages.