The Northeast recorded its warmest March since 1977 and the 9th warmest in 106 years of record. The twelve-state region averaged 5.1 degrees warmer than normal, but was still about 4 degrees short of the March record of 43.5 degrees established in 1945. The largest departures were found in New York with a state average that was 6 degrees warmer than normal. The West Virginia average deviated the least from normal, coming in at 2.9 degrees warmer than the long-term mean.
Precipitation averaged close to normal for the region as a whole. The area-weighted total for March was 3.13 inches, which represented 97% of normal. Individual state departures ranged from a low of 67% of normal in Vermont to 124% of normal in Rhode Island. Although the month was only slightly drier than normal, it was drier than each of the last three Marches.
Monthly Summary of State Temperature and Precipitation Averages.
Monthly Precipitation Record (inches) City New Previous Wilmington, DE 9.14 7.50 in 1993 24-Hour March Precipitation Records (inches) City Date New Previous Wilmington, DE 21st 3.21 3.11 in 1978 Atlantic City, NJ AP 21st-22nd 3.24 2.80 in 1994 Philadelphia, PA 21st-22nd 3.20 2.79 in 1912 Daily Precipitation Records (inches) City Date New Previous Bridgeport, CT 11th 1.79 0.90 in 1952 Atlantic City, NJ AP 21st 1.98 1.60 in 1964 Philadelphia, PA 21st 2.24 1.51 in 1974 Atlantic City, NJ AP 22nd 1.26 0.47 in 1950 Daily Snowfall Record (inches) City Date New Previous Caribou, ME 12th 10.0 8.9 in 1959 Maximum Temperature Records (degrees F) City Date New Previous Rochester, NY 8th 75 72 in 1921 Newark, NJ 9th 74 67 in 1977 Buffalo, NY 9th 68 67 in 1878 Central Park, NY 9th 75 66 in 1977 Massena, NY 9th 67 59 in 1977 Rochester, NY 9th 73 68 in 1977 Syracuse, NY 9th 73 67 in 1977 Erie, PA 9th 74 70 in 1879 Scranton, PA 9th 71 68 in 1921 Burlington, VT 9th 66 60 in 1921 Montpelier, VT 9th 60 59 in 1977 St. Johnsbury, VT 9th 61 58 in 1942 Atlantic City, NJ Marina 10th 68 64 in 1964 Concord, NH 16th 68 67 in 1935