March 2022 – Warm and Dry Conditions Continue Across Delaware

March Temperatures

Preliminary data indicates that the statewide average temperature in March was 47.3^o F, which is 3.1^o F above the 1991-2020 mean value of 44.2^o F (Figure 1).  March 2022 was tied with March 1913 as the 15^th warmest since observations began in 1895. 

March Precipitation

Delaware’s statewide precipitation for March 2022 averaged 2.97 inches, 1.15 inches below the 1991-2020 mean (Figure 2).  This month’s precipitation was tied with 1982 as the 37^th driest March since records began in 1895.

Statewide Spatial Anomalies

Data from the Delaware Environmental Observing System (DEOS) show that temperature departures were above normal across the entire state, with many stations seeing positive temperature anomalies of greater than 4^o F (Figure 3).  Precipitation was below normal across the entire state, with the largest negative departures found across New Castle County (Figure 4). 

National Anomalies

Temperatures were above normal across the eastern one-third of the United States, and along the Pacific Coast, with some areas seeing positive departures of 3^o – 5^o F.  The central portions of the country saw below normal temperatures with some negative departures as much as 3^o – 5^o F scattered throughout the region (Figure 5).  Precipitation anomalies varied greatly across the country (Figure 6), with generally dry conditions across the western one-half of the nation.  Wet conditions were found across the Great Lakes and Mississippi Valley.  The 500 hPa height pattern for March shows a jet stream trough located over northeastern North America and a jet stream ridge over both the eastern and western United States contributing to the temperature anomalies across those regions (Figure 7).

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