Weather

March 2014 Saint Cloud Weather Summary

Year-to-Date Graph Return to Daily Statistics by Month Table

Another month, another period of well-below average temperatures. The March average temperature at the St. Cloud Regional Airport wasn't horrible: 22.5°F, 6.9°F colder than average. That only ranks as the 28th coldest March. In fact, it was colder last March (21.9°F). Actually, the temperature made up quite a bit of ground after an awful start. The first 3 days averaged nearly 30 degrees colder than average with only the 4th March high of zero or colder and 5 cold temperature records set in the first three days (compared to only 4 others the rest of the winter).

However, it's the persistent, unrelenting cold that has been the problem. Over the 5-month period between November 2013 through March 2014, comprising most of the snow season, the average temperature in St. Cloud was 13.5°F, 6.0°F colder than average. That ranks as the 6th coldest November through March season in St. Cloud records and the coldest in 35 years (since 1978-1979). Three of the 5 cold seasons ahead of this year were in the 1880's. In fact, there have been only 3 seasons ranking in the top 10 since 1960 (1964-1965, 1978-1979, and this season).

Other notable "milestones:"

Temperature

  • 6th coldest November through March (13.5°F, -6.0°F), coldest in 35 years (1978-1979)
  • 28th coldest March on record (22.5°F, -6.9°F), milder than last March (21.9°F)
  • 63 days with a low of zero or colder; 8th most on record
    • Record: 69 days in 1964-1965, 1978-1979
    • Most since 1978-1979
  • 15 days with a high of zero or colder; second most on record behind 1935-1936 (17 days)
  • 14 days with a low of -20 or colder; tied for 6th most
    • record: 20 days in 1978-1979
    • most since 1995-1996 (15 days)
  • First 50-degree high March 30, 17 days late, but earlier than last year's record-breaking latest date of April 26
  • 5 record cold March temperatures tied or broken
    • March 1: tied record cold high
    • March 2: broke record cold high (4th of season) and average
    • March 3: broke record cold average (3rd of season) and low (2nd of season)
    • Other daily records:
      • January 6 - record cold high tied
      • February 25 - record cold high
      • February 27 - record cold average and low tied

There was above average snowfall again in March, but it was far less frequent than earlier in the winter. 9.2 inches fell in March, 1.1 inches higher than average. Most of it fell on March 18 with 7.4 inches on that day. However, like the temperature, it's the whole winter totals that are getting up there. The seasonal snowfall, including 0.4 inch on the morning of April 1, is now 63.9 inches, just 1.5 inch short of St. Cloud's 10 snowiest cold seasons. Currently, 2013-2014 has the 14th highest total snowfall. There have been 47 days with measurable snowfall (including April 1), 9th most on record (tied with 1964-1965, 1969-1970, 1995-1996).

Other notable "achievements:"

Snowfall

Despite only 4 days with measurable snow in March (and a near clean miss of the March 31 blizzard in northern Minnesota), it's the persistent snow depth that has been the problem. Including April 1 (4 inches on the ground as of 7 AM), there have now been 120 consecutive days with at least an inch on the ground (December 3 through April 1). That ties last winter's mark. However, St. Cloud would need another 9 days to crack 10 longest streaks. The record is 146 days, set in 2000-2001. This would require the latest ever end to the streak, 11 days later than the April 15 record set in 1975. Last season ranked 4th latest with the last day on April 7. Already, having seen the snow cover last through April 1, this season is in the top 11.

Missing the blizzard and even the thunderstorms from yesterday kept the March melted precipitation less than average. The total was 1.20 inches, 0.35 inch below average.

Is the snow season over? We should know better. The average April snowfall is 2.9 inches. Looking at it each year, April is very hit-and-miss. Most years, there is very little and some years, there is a lot, including last April's 24.4 inches, the snowiest April on record. There is the possibility of more snow on Thursday, but a change in the track could produce a little...or a lot.

March 2014 Statistics

Temperatures (°F)
Mar 2014
Average
Average High Temperature (°F)
31.7
39.0
Average Low Temperature (°F)
13.3
19.8
Mean Temperature for March (°F)
22.5
29.4
 
March Extremes
Temperature(°F)
Date
Warmest High Temperature for March 2014 (°F)
53
March 30
Coldest High Temperature for March 2014 (°F)
0 (Tied daily record cold high)
March 1
Warmest Low Temperature for March 2014 (°F)
36
March 30
Coldest Low Temperature for March 2014 (°F)

-19 (broke record)

March 3
Record Temperatures in March 2014
Temperature(°F)
Date
Old Record
Daily Record Cold High
0 (tie)
March 1
Tied with 1943, 1962
 
3
March 2
5 set in 1943
Daily Record Cold Average
-7
March 2
-6 set in 1913
 
-5
March 3
-3 set in 2002
Daily Record Cold Low
-19
March 3
-16 set in 1971
Temperature Thresholds
Number of Days
Normal
March 2014 Days with High Temperatures <= 32°F
17
10.1
Cold Season 2013-2014 Days with High Temperatures <= 32°F 102 87.7
March 2014 Days with High Temperatures <= 0°F
1
0.0

Cold-season 2013-2014 Days with High Temperatures <= 0°F

15 (2nd highest ever)
4.3
March 2014 Days with Low Temperatures <= 32°F
29
28.0

Cold-season 2013-2014 Days with Low Temperatures <= 32°F

158
155.4
March 2014 Days with Low Temperatures <= 0°F
3
3.5

Cold-season 2013-2014 Days with Low Temperatures <= 0°F

63 (8th most on record)
42.7
March 2014 Days with Low Temperatures <= -20°F
0
0.0

Cold-season 2013-2014 Days with Low Temperatures <= -20°F

14 (tied for 6th most on record)
5.4
St. Cloud Historic -20°F Lows   Link to 10 Warmest/Coldest Marches
Liquid Equivalent Precipitation (in)
March 2014
Normal
March 2013 Melted Precipitation (in)
1.20
1.55
March Extremes
Precipitation (in)
Date
Most Daily Precipitation in March 2013
0.54 inch
March 9
Daily Precipitation Records
Amount (inches)
Date
Old Record
No records set
Precipitation Thresholds
Number of Days
Normal
March 2014 Days with Measurable (>= 0.01 inch) Precipitation
4
7.1
March 2014 Days with >= 0.10 inch Precipitation
3
3.3
March 2014 Days with >= 0.25 inch Precipitation
2
1.8
March 2014 Days with >= 0.50 inch Precipitation
1
0.7
March 2014 Days with >= 1.00 inch Precipitation
0
0.1

Link to 10 Wettest/Driest Marches Complete list of Saint Cloud March Records
Snowfall (in)
March 2014
Normal
March 2014 Saint Cloud Airport Snowfall (in)
9.2
8.1
2013-2014 Seasonal Snowfall (1 Oct 2013 - 31 Mar 2014)
63.5
45.8

10 Whitest Cold Seasons

Snowfall Thresholds
Number of Days
Average
March 2014 Days with Measurable (>= 0.1 inch) Snowfall
4
5.3
2013-2014 Cold Season Total Days with Measurable (>= 0.1 inch) Snowfall
47 (1 in April)
31.8
March 2014 Days with >= 1.0 inch Snowfall
2
2.8
2013-2014 Cold Season Total Days with >= 1.0 inch Snowfall
18
14.0.
March 2014 Days with >= 2.0 inch Snowfall
1
1.5
2013-2014 Cold Season Total Days with >= 2.0 inch Snowfall
10
7.6
March 2014 Days with >= 5.0 inch Snowfall
1
0.1
2013-2014 Cold Season Total Days with >= 5.0 inch Snowfall
4
1.4
     
March Extremes
Snowfall (in)
Date
Most Daily Snowfall (in) in March 2014
7.4
March 18
Daily Snowfall Records
Amount (inches)
Date
Old Record
No Records Set

Coldest November-March Average Temperatures (1882-2014)

Rank
Cold Season

Average Temperature (°F)

1
1886-1887
10.7
2
1935-1936
10.9
3
1887-1888
11.6
4
1978-1979
12.7
5
1884-1885
12.9
6
2013-2014
13.5
7 (tie)
1911-1912
13.76
7 (tie)
1898-1899
13.84
9
1950-1951
13.9
10 (tie)
1955-1956
14.08
10 (tie)
1964-1965
14.10

 

 

Historic temperature data provided courtesy of the Saint Cloud National Weather Service Office, and NOAA/NWS
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Send comments to: raweisman@stcloudstate.edu