Temperature

Average temperatures were 5-10°F above normal for most of the region (Figure 1). Temperatures averaged most above normal in Ohio and Michigan, where they were 10-13°F above normal for the week. In Saginaw, Michigan, a mean temperature of 66°F was observed on March 15, which was the warmest daily mean temperature in March since 2012.

Minimum temperatures were generally above normal by 3-6°F (Figure 2). In parts of Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin, minimum temperatures averaged as much as 10°F above normal for the week. In Saginaw, a minimum temperature of 59°F was observed on March 15, which was 34°F above normal, which was the warmest minimum temperature in March since 2012 and the 6th warmest in March since records began in 1912. In Bad Axe, Michigan, a minimum temperature of 53°F was observed on March 16, which was 30°F above normal and the warmest minimum temperature in March since 2012.

Maximum temperatures were above normal for the week by a standard 4-8°F in most states (Figure 3). In Ohio and Michigan, they averaged over 10°F above normal. In Mauston, Wisconsin, temperature of 77°F was observed on March 15, which was 34°F above normal and the warmest temperature in March since 2012. In St. Louis, Missouri, the a temperature of 84°F was observed twice this month as of March 21, which is the most in March since 2012.

Precipitation/Severe Weather/Drought

Precipitation was most abundant in a belt from Michigan’s UP southward through Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky, where over 200 percent of normal precipitation was observed (Figure 4). In Bowling Green, Kentucky, 3.30 inches of precipitation was observed on March 15, which was the wettest March day since 1976 and 6th wettest March day on record. Other areas with significant precipitation included northern Iowa and central Minnesota. While most of this fell as rain, there was significant snow in northwestern Iowa, north-central Wisconsin, northern Michigan, and northern Minnesota, all of which saw at least 5-6 inches of snow (Figure 5).

A system early in the period brought most of the precipitation, and it was associated with severe weather over Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. There were over 200 reports of severe weather, with the vast majority being wind reports (Figure 6). However, there were 23 tornado reports, some of which occurred in the densely-populated Chicagoland area. There were EF-0 tornadoes and one EF-1 tornado in the Chicago suburb of Cedar Lake, Indiana which caused a trampoline to wrap around a telephone pole. Another severe weather event on March 19 spun up 8 confirmed tornadoes across the, including two EF-1 tornadoes, one of which struck Gary, Indiana causing an injury when a roof collapsed on a person. The March 19th event also induced an EF-1 tornado in Bartholomew County in central Indiana which spent over 13 miles on the ground.

Drought remained persistent across the region. There was some improvement in the D1 (moderate drought) and D2 (severe drought) categories over the prior week (Figure 7). There was also some expansion of D0 (abnormally dry) conditions.