March outlook on Delmarva

On paper, March came in like a lamb this past Saturday. Delmarva had a sunny day, with a high of 68° in Salisbury. Of course, this was right before a strong cold front sliced across the area Saturday afternoon, bringing a return to winter temperatures by nightfall. And after a very cold start to the week, mild air and the threat for severe thunderstorms will be in the forecast for midweek. One could make a strong argument that the first days of March will really be more lion-like!

The monthly outlook is expected to be pretty typical for Delmarva and the Mid-Atlantic region. It’s important to note that this is the cumulative daily average of the month. March is usually more chaotic with quicker up and down temperature swings as we approach the astronomical start of spring (5:01am March 20th). A weak La Nina is expected to have a limited impact on the overall weather patten, and a continuation of active weather is anticipated which will help the continued slow reversal of ongoing drought conditions.

The climb in average temperatures kicks into higher gear with a stronger sun angle. Average lows climb above freezing and average highs get to 60° by the end of the month.

Average temperatures in Salisbury (Low/High):

March 1st  32°/51°
March 15th  35°/55°
March 31st  39°/60°

On Delmarva, snow is certainly not out of the question in March. Although cold snaps are short lived and less ‘cold’, an impactful snowfall is always possible. Much like the seasonal average, the average snowfall is not a reliable metric since snow events can be feast or famine in the mid-Atlantic, especially along the eastern shore. But, one thing we can count on in March is rain. As spring approaches, mid-latitude storm systems become more effective at bringing gulf moisture north. And although severe thunderstorm frequency doesn’t really ramp up until we get into April, it’s not uncommon to have thunderstorms and lower-end risks for severe weather (like we expect Wednesday evening). Increased heavy rain events factor into a monthly precipitation average of over 4 inches.

March average precipitation in Salisbury:

All precip (liquid equivalent): 4.17″
Snowfall: 1″

And just a reminder – we spring forward 1 hour when Daylight Saving Time begins March 9th. With the adjustment 1 hour forward, sunset in Salisbury jumps to 7:03pm, with a later sunrise starting at 7:22am. Of course, sunrises will continue to occur earlier each morning with later sunsets each evening as we head through spring.