(State) After the 6th driest February in 150 years of statewide records, March saw a rebound in moisture across Iowa. The preliminary statewide average precipitation (rain and snow) came in at 2.70 inches, seven-tenths of an inch above normal. Snowfall for the month averaged 3.0 inches, one inch below normal.
In terms of temperature, March was near-normal at 36 degrees. State Climatologist Justin Glisan says, “Southwest Iowa was slightly cooler than normal with an average temperature of 39 degrees, just sixth-tenths of a degree cooler than average. The region also received 2.81 inches of precipitation, slightly over a half of an inch above average.”
Atlantic’s high temperature of 75 degrees occurred on the 2nd while the coldest overnight low of 1 degree occurred on the 12th and 13th. The average high was 50 degrees, which is the climatological expectation. The average low was 25 degrees, one degree warmer than expected.
Atlantic received 3.27 inches of precipitation, which is about 1.40 inches above normal. The highest 24-hour precipitation occurred between 7:00 am on the 17th to 7:00 am on the 18th, at 1.58 inches. Three point seven inches of snow fell for the month, which is three tenths of an inch above normal.
