March 2022 Summary – Warmer and Drier Than Average

Blue Hill Observatory March 2022 Summary:

March was much warmer and drier than average. The 24-hour adjusted mean temperature for the month of 38.9 deg F was 4.4 degrees warmer than the 1891-2020 130-year average for March, and it was 3.1 degrees warmer than the 1991-2020 30-year average. The average maximum temperature of 49.6 deg F was 4.9 degrees warmer than the 30-year average, and it was the 12th warmest on record. The average minimum temperature of 29.5 deg F was 1.85degrees warmer than the 30-year average. The highest temperature observed was 73F on the 18th, which surpassed the previous record maximum temperature for that date of 72F set in 2012, The lowest temperature during the month of 10F was observed on the 4th. The total precipitation was 3.17 inches, which was about an inch and a half less than the 130-year average and two and a half inches less than the 1991-2020 30-year mean. The greatest precipitation in 24 hours was 1.07 inches on the 24th-25th. The total snowfall for the month was 4.1 inches, which was about eight inches less than the long-term average and nearly 11 inches less than the 30-year average. The greatest snowfall in 24 hours was 3.3 inches on the 9th-10th. Nearby Houghton’s Pond was considered thawed for the final time this season on March 11th. Counting from the initial freeze date of January 10th, the duration of the Houghton’s Pond freeze this winter was only 60 days, which was the seventh shortest freeze interval on record for this pond. The mean wind speed for the month was 13.0 mph, which was the fourth lowest on record for March, and the prevailing wind direction was from the west-northwest. The highest wind gust was 59 mph from the west-northwest on the 7th and again from the northwest on the 12th. March sunshine was above average with a total of 189.5 hours of bright sunshine, or 53 percent of possible, which was four percent more than the long-term average for March.

BHO Shortest Houghton’s Pond Winter Freeze Duration (1885-2022):

1) 45 days, 9 January 2012 – 23 February 2012
2) 51 days, 5 January 2016 – 25 February 2016
3) 54 days, 31 December 1996 – 23 February 1997
4) 56 days, 28 December 2001 – 22 February 2002
5) 56 days, 18 January 2007 – 15 March 2007
6) 58 days, 5 January 1974 – 4 March 1974
7) 60 days, 10 January 2022 – 11 March 2022
8) 62 days, 24 December 1959 – 24 February 1960

BHO March Lowest Mean Wind Speed, deg F (1885-2022):

1) 12.1 on 1995
2) 12.8 on 2012
3) 12.9 on 2020
4) 13.0 on 2022
5) 13.1 on 2014

Mike Iacono
Chief Scientist
Blue Hill Observatory