Climate Impacts - March 1998

Monthly Summary

Thanks in large part to record-breaking heat at the end of the month, March 1998 wound up 2.9 degrees warmer than normal. This was the warmest March since 1973 and the 14th warmest in 104 years of record. The state of Vermont had the region's largest departure at 4.5 degrees warmer than normal. This was their 11th warmest March on record. West Virginia had the Northeast's smallest monthly departure, with a statewide average temperature that was 1.0 degree warmer than the long-term average.

At least 19 cities in the Northeast set records for their warmest temperature ever recorded during the month of March. On the 30th and 31st, several major cities saw the temperature climb to 89 degrees. These cities included Boston, Concord, Albany, Hartford, Baltimore and Washington, DC. Danbury, CT, meanwhile, reported a high temperature of 92 degrees on the 31st.

The area-weighted precipitation total for the Northeast this month was 3.71 inches, which represented 115% of normal. Although wetter than normal, it was drier than five or the last seven Marches. West Virginia was the only state to have a preliminary state average that was slightly below normal, with 93%. Connecticut reported the largest excess, with 155% of normal. This was their 11th wettest March since 1895. New York City received 5 inches of snow on March 22nd, bringing their seasonal total to only 5.5 inches.

Monthly Summary of State Temperature and Precipitation Averages.

New Weather Records

**State Maximum Temperature Record for March (degrees F)**
City	Date	New	Previous
Union Village, VT	31st	88	84 in Burlington, 3/29/1946

Maximum Temperature Records for Month of March (degrees F)
City Date New Previous

Milton, MA 28th 86 85 on 3/29/1945

Allentown, PA 30th 87 84 on 3/30/1977

Atlantic City AP, NJ (tie) 30th 87 87 on 3/29/1945

Harrisburg, PA 30th 87 86 on 3/29/1945

Wilmington, DE (tie) 30th 86 86 on 3/21/1948

Albany, NY 31st 89 86 on 3/30/1986

Binghamton, NY (tie) 31st 82 82 on 3/30/1977

Boston, MA 31st 89 86 on 3/29/1945

Burlington, VT (tie) 31st 84 84 on 3/29/1946

Concord, NH 31st 89 86 on 3/30/1977

Hartford, CT 31st 89 87 on 3/30/1977

Massena, NY 31st 85 82` on 3/30/1977

Montpelier, VT 31st 80 77` on 3/29/1977

NYC Central Park, NY (tie) 31st 86 86 on 3/29/1945

Portland, ME 31st 88 86 on 3/29/1946

St. Johnsbury, VT 31st 83 82 on 3/29/1946

Scranton, PA 31st 85 84 on 3/29/1905

Williamsport, PA 31st 87 87 on 3/30/1986

Worcester, MA (tie) 31st 84 84 on 3/29/1946

**Maximum Temperature Records for Month of March (degrees F)**
City	Date	New	Previous
Milton, MA	28th	86	85 on 3/29/1945
Allentown, PA	30th	87	84 on 3/30/1977
Atlantic City AP, NJ (tie)	30th	87	87 on 3/29/1945
Harrisburg, PA	30th	87	86 on 3/29/1945
Wilmington, DE (tie)	30th	86	86 on 3/21/1948
Albany, NY	31st	89	86 on 3/30/1986
Binghamton, NY (tie)	31st	82	82 on 3/30/1977
Boston, MA	31st	89	86 on 3/29/1945
Burlington, VT (tie)	31st	84	84 on 3/29/1946
Concord, NH	31st	89	86 on 3/30/1977
Hartford, CT	31st	89	87 on 3/30/1977
Massena, NY	31st	85	82` on 3/30/1977
Montpelier, VT	31st	80	77` on 3/29/1977
NYC Central Park, NY (tie)	31st	86	86 on 3/29/1945
Portland, ME	31st	88	86 on 3/29/1946
St. Johnsbury, VT	31st	83	82 on 3/29/1946
Scranton, PA	31st	85	84 on 3/29/1905
Williamsport, PA	31st	87	87 on 3/30/1986
Worcester, MA (tie)	31st	84	84 on 3/29/1946

Daily Maximum Temperature Records (degrees F)
City Date New Previous

Caribou, ME 9th 47 45 in 1962

Mount Washington, NH 9th 40 39 in 1942

Portland, ME 9th 52 51 in 1973

Mount Washington, NH 10th 39 36 in 1992

Portland, ME (tie) 10th 58 58 in 1977

Albany, NY 27th 78 73 in 1949

Allentown, PA 27th 83 80 in 1949

Atlantic City AP, NJ 27th 81 78 in 1949

Beckley, WV 27th 80 79 in 1989

Milton, MA 27th 77 76 in 1945

Boston, ME 27th 79 76 in 1945

Bridgeport, CT 27th 69 68 in 1949

Concord, NH (tie) 27th 76 73 in 1975

Erie, PA 27th 80 76 in 1991

Harrisburg, PA 27th 85 82 in 1921

Hartford, CT 27th 82 76 in 1945

NYC Central Park, NY 27th 83 75 in 1949

Newark, NJ 27th 84 78 in 1949

Portland, ME 27th 74 62 in 1993

Providence, RI 27th 81 75 in 1945

Wilmington, DE 27th 82 80 in 1949

Binghamton, NY 28th 78 72 in 1989

Milton, MA 28th 86 81 in 1989

Boston, MA 28th 85 81 in 1989

Bridgeport, CT 28th 80 74 in 1989

Buffalo, NY (tie) 28th 77 77 in 1945

Concord, NH 28th 86 82 in 1945

Hartford, CT 28th 84 83 in 1989

Massena, NY 28th 78 66 in 1961

Montpelier, VT 28th 72 67 in 1985

Mount Washington, NH 28th 52 46 in 1945

Portland, ME 28th 75 74 in 1989

Providence, RI 28th 83 80 in 1989

Worcester, MA (tie) 28th 81 81 in 1945

Atlantic City Marina, NJ 29th 82 76 in 1985

Beckley, WV 29th 79 77 in 1977

Allentown, PA 30th 87 84 in 1977

Atlantic City AP, NJ 30th 87 81 in 1963

Baltimore, MD 30th 89 87 in 1979

Beckley, WV 30th 81 80 in 1985

Binghamton, NY (tie) 30th 82 82 in 1977

Buffalo, NY (tie) 30th 76 76 in 1977

Burlington, VT (tie) 30th 80 80 in 1977

Charleston, WV 30th 87 85 in 1910

Elkins, WV 30th 83 80 in 1986

Erie, PA 30th 82 79 in 1986

Harrisburg, PA 30th 87 84 in 1977

Huntington, WV (tie) 30th 85 85 in 1910

Morgantown, WV 30th 84 82 in 1986

National AP, DC 30th 87 86 in 1963

NYC Central Park, NY 30th 82 79 in 1977

Newark, NJ 30th 86 84 in 1977

Parkersburg, WV (tie) 30th 84 84 in 1986

Philadelphia, PA 30th 86 85 in 1977

Pittsburgh, PA (tie) 30th 82 82 in 1986

Providence, RI 30th 79 78 in 1977

Scranton, PA 30th 84 83 in 1977

St. Johnsbury, VT 30th 79 79 in 1977

Wilmington, DE 30th 86 84 in 1945

Albany, NY 31st 89 77 in 1968

Allentown, PA 31st 82 80 in 1979

Baltimore, MD 31st 86 83 in 1979

Beckley, WV 31st 81 79 in 1986

Binghamton, NY 31st 82 72 in 1968

Boston, MA 31st 89 70 in 1981

Bridgeport, CT 31st 74 73 in 1986

Burlington, VT 31st 84 71 in 1949

Buffalo, NY 31st 78 75 in 1968

Charleston, WV 31st 87 86 in 1929

Concord, NH 31st 89 68 in 1968

Elkins, WV 31st 83 81 in 1986

Erie, PA 31st 82 75 in 1986

Harrisburg, PA 31st 85 83 in 1943

Hartford, CT 31st 89 71 in 1986

Massena, NY 31st 85 67 in 1982

Montpelier, VT 31st 80 68 in 1968

Morgantown, WV 31st 83 79 in 1986

NYC Central Park, NY 31st 86 75 in 1986

Newark, NJ 31st 85 76 in 1986

Philadelphia, PA (tie) 31st 81 81 in 1979

Pittsburgh, PA 31st 82 79 in 1875

Portland, ME 31st 88 64 in 1981

Providence, RI 31st 85 75 in 1981

Rochester, NY 31st 83 78 in 1988

Scranton, PA 31st 85 77 in 1986

St. Johnsbury, VT 31st 83 67 in 1968

Syracuse, NY 31st 85 77 in 1968

Williamsport, PA 31st 87 81 in 1943

Wilmington, DE 31st 81 80 in 1979

Worcester, MA 31st 84 70 in 1918

**Daily Maximum Temperature Records (degrees F)**
City	Date	New	Previous
Caribou, ME	9th	47	45 in 1962
Mount Washington, NH	9th	40	39 in 1942
Portland, ME	9th	52	51 in 1973
Mount Washington, NH	10th	39	36 in 1992
Portland, ME (tie)	10th	58	58 in 1977
Albany, NY	27th	78	73 in 1949
Allentown, PA	27th	83	80 in 1949
Atlantic City AP, NJ	27th	81	78 in 1949
Beckley, WV	27th	80	79 in 1989
Milton, MA	27th	77	76 in 1945
Boston, ME	27th	79	76 in 1945
Bridgeport, CT	27th	69	68 in 1949
Concord, NH (tie)	27th	76	73 in 1975
Erie, PA	27th	80	76 in 1991
Harrisburg, PA	27th	85	82 in 1921
Hartford, CT	27th	82	76 in 1945
NYC Central Park, NY	27th	83	75 in 1949
Newark, NJ	27th	84	78 in 1949
Portland, ME	27th	74	62 in 1993
Providence, RI	27th	81	75 in 1945
Wilmington, DE	27th	82	80 in 1949
Binghamton, NY	28th	78	72 in 1989
Milton, MA	28th	86	81 in 1989
Boston, MA	28th	85	81 in 1989
Bridgeport, CT	28th	80	74 in 1989
Buffalo, NY (tie)	28th	77	77 in 1945
Concord, NH	28th	86	82 in 1945
Hartford, CT	28th	84	83 in 1989
Massena, NY	28th	78	66 in 1961
Montpelier, VT	28th	72	67 in 1985
Mount Washington, NH	28th	52	46 in 1945
Portland, ME	28th	75	74 in 1989
Providence, RI	28th	83	80 in 1989
Worcester, MA (tie)	28th	81	81 in 1945
Atlantic City Marina, NJ	29th	82	76 in 1985
Beckley, WV	29th	79	77 in 1977
Allentown, PA	30th	87	84 in 1977
Atlantic City AP, NJ	30th	87	81 in 1963
Baltimore, MD	30th	89	87 in 1979
Beckley, WV	30th	81	80 in 1985
Binghamton, NY (tie)	30th	82	82 in 1977
Buffalo, NY (tie)	30th	76	76 in 1977
Burlington, VT (tie)	30th	80	80 in 1977
Charleston, WV	30th	87	85 in 1910
Elkins, WV	30th	83	80 in 1986
Erie, PA	30th	82	79 in 1986
Harrisburg, PA	30th	87	84 in 1977
Huntington, WV (tie)	30th	85	85 in 1910
Morgantown, WV	30th	84	82 in 1986
National AP, DC	30th	87	86 in 1963
NYC Central Park, NY	30th	82	79 in 1977
Newark, NJ	30th	86	84 in 1977
Parkersburg, WV (tie)	30th	84	84 in 1986
Philadelphia, PA	30th	86	85 in 1977
Pittsburgh, PA (tie)	30th	82	82 in 1986
Providence, RI	30th	79	78 in 1977
Scranton, PA	30th	84	83 in 1977
St. Johnsbury, VT	30th	79	79 in 1977
Wilmington, DE	30th	86	84 in 1945
Albany, NY	31st	89	77 in 1968
Allentown, PA	31st	82	80 in 1979
Baltimore, MD	31st	86	83 in 1979
Beckley, WV	31st	81	79 in 1986
Binghamton, NY	31st	82	72 in 1968
Boston, MA	31st	89	70 in 1981
Bridgeport, CT	31st	74	73 in 1986
Burlington, VT	31st	84	71 in 1949
Buffalo, NY	31st	78	75 in 1968
Charleston, WV	31st	87	86 in 1929
Concord, NH	31st	89	68 in 1968
Elkins, WV	31st	83	81 in 1986
Erie, PA	31st	82	75 in 1986
Harrisburg, PA	31st	85	83 in 1943
Hartford, CT	31st	89	71 in 1986
Massena, NY	31st	85	67 in 1982
Montpelier, VT	31st	80	68 in 1968
Morgantown, WV	31st	83	79 in 1986
NYC Central Park, NY	31st	86	75 in 1986
Newark, NJ	31st	85	76 in 1986
Philadelphia, PA (tie)	31st	81	81 in 1979
Pittsburgh, PA	31st	82	79 in 1875
Portland, ME	31st	88	64 in 1981
Providence, RI	31st	85	75 in 1981
Rochester, NY	31st	83	78 in 1988
Scranton, PA	31st	85	77 in 1986
St. Johnsbury, VT	31st	83	67 in 1968
Syracuse, NY	31st	85	77 in 1968
Williamsport, PA	31st	87	81 in 1943
Wilmington, DE	31st	81	80 in 1979
Worcester, MA	31st	84	70 in 1918

Daily Minimum Temperature Records (degrees F)
City Date New Previous

Beckley, WV 12th 11 13 in 1969

Atlantic City AP, NJ 13th 16 18 in 1960

Beckley, WV 13th 8 10 in 1969

Bridgeport, CT 13th 16 19 in 1974

Montpelier, VT 13th -6 -4 in 1984

Mount Washington, NH 13th -25 -24 in 1992

**Daily Minimum Temperature Records (degrees F)**
City	Date	New	Previous
Beckley, WV	12th	11	13 in 1969
Atlantic City AP, NJ	13th	16	18 in 1960
Beckley, WV	13th	8	10 in 1969
Bridgeport, CT	13th	16	19 in 1974
Montpelier, VT	13th	-6	-4 in 1984
Mount Washington, NH	13th	-25	-24 in 1992

Daily Precipitation Records (inches)
City Date New Previous

Bridgeport, CT 9th 2.14 0.48 in 1995

Boston, MA 9th 2.14 1.33 in 1942

Caribou, ME 9th 1.18 0.98 in 1946

Hartford, CT 9th 2.4 1.74 in 1919

NYC Central Park, NY 9th 1.82 1.70 in 1893

Newark, NJ 9th 1.13 0.82 in 1942

Providence, RI 9th 3.02 1.95 in 1942

Worcester, MA 9th 3.73 1.83 in 1942

Newark, NJ 19th 1.4 1.27 in 1956

Bridgeport, CT 19th 1.56 1.46 in 1983

**Daily Precipitation Records (inches)**
City	Date	New	Previous
Bridgeport, CT	9th	2.14	0.48 in 1995
Boston, MA	9th	2.14	1.33 in 1942
Caribou, ME	9th	1.18	0.98 in 1946
Hartford, CT	9th	2.4	1.74 in 1919
NYC Central Park, NY	9th	1.82	1.70 in 1893
Newark, NJ	9th	1.13	0.82 in 1942
Providence, RI	9th	3.02	1.95 in 1942
Worcester, MA	9th	3.73	1.83 in 1942
Newark, NJ	19th	1.4	1.27 in 1956
Bridgeport, CT	19th	1.56	1.46 in 1983

Daily Snowfall Record (inches)
City Date New Previous

Rochester, NY 21st 8.2 4.0 in 1932

**Daily Snowfall Record (inches)**
City	Date	New	Previous
Rochester, NY	21st	8.2	4.0 in 1932

27-April-1998
Keith L. Eggleston (kle1@cornell.edu)