Heading into spring, March outlook

March can be a mixed bag of weather in Mid-Missouri with snow still a possibility as the severe storm season begins. Looking at 30 year averages, the month usually starts off chilly with daytime highs near 50 but ends up milder, with highs near 60 by the 31st as daylight increases. Weather can take quick turns, from cold to warm and snow is still possible. On average, we get 1.7″ snow in March but in 1960 we picked up a whopping 24.5 inches.

Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday, March 12th this year when we turn our clocks ahead an hour. The Vernal Equinox which marks the beginning of spring occurs at 5:28 AM on March 20th.

We could end up with a lot of warm days this month. The 30 day outlook from the Climate Prediction Center puts us in above average temperatures and keeps our precipitation near or just below average for the month as a whole.