National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

 March 2012 across central and northeast South Dakota and west central Minnesota was a record breaker for numerous daily and monthly records.  The average monthly temperatures were an astounding 13 to 15 degrees above normal. The average high temperatures were from 16 to almost 20 degrees above normal.  Eighty degree temperatures are a rarity in March across this region but, not for this year. Eighty degrees or higher was reached at all locations throughout March with Pierre reaching 80 degrees or higher five times throughout the month.  The warmest temperature was 88 degrees at Pierre on March 18^th which also broke their all-time March high temperature record.  The 82 degrees at Watertown and Sisseton on March 18th tied their all-time March high temperature record.   Some of the daily records set in March were broken by as much as 15 to 20 degrees.

All-time monthly average March temperature records were also broken at all locations except for Aberdeen and Watertown.  Although, Aberdeen and Watertown did have their second warmest March on record.  The monthly records were shattered at several locations by as much as 4 to over 5 degrees.   Finally, the difference between the highest and lowest temperatures in March were anywhere from 71 to as much as 85 degrees across the region.

March was also a very dry month across the region with precipitation amounts from a quarter of an inch to just over an inch below normal. Mobridge had its 6^th driest March on record while Pierre had its 8^th driest March on record.  March is normally one of our snowiest months with 6 to 8 inches of snowfall.  For March 2012, snow was almost non-existent throughout the month with amounts ranging from only trace amounts up to 3 inches.  This lack of snow cover was also a big contributor in allowing for the very warm temperatures.   

*Denotes the all-time record highs