March 2026 – Very Warm with Below Normal Precipitation Across Delaware

March Temperatures

Preliminary data indicates that the statewide average temperature in March was 48.6^o F, which is 4.4^o F above the 1991-2020 average value of 44.2^o F (Figure 1).  March 2026 was the 9^th warmest March since observations began in 1895.  At the Wilmington and Georgetown Airports (Figure 2a and 2b), an early spring warm up from March 8^th through the 11^th resulted in high temperatures reaching into the 70s and 80s.  Although a few cold periods occurred after this early warm up, temperatures generally remained above average resulting in the very warm monthly value.    

March Precipitation

Delaware’s statewide precipitation for March 2026 averaged 2.06 inches, 2.06 inches below the 1991-2020 average of 4.12 inches (Figure 3).  March 2026 was the 15^th driest March since observations began in 1895. March was also the 8^th month in a row with at or below normal precipitation for Delaware.

Statewide Spatial Anomalies

Data from the Delaware Environmental Observing System (DEOS) show that temperatures were uniformly warm across the State, with most locations seeing positive departures of between 4^o F and 7^o F (Figure 4).  Precipitation was below normal across the entire state with most stations seeing negative departures between 1 and 3 inches (Figure 5).

National Anomalies

Temperatures were above normal across the entire coterminous United States in March (Figure 6).  The core of this country-wide warmth was found across the central Rockies and much of the desert Southwest where positive departures reached over 10^o F!   Precipitation was generally below normal across the majority of the country (Figure 7), especially across the Southeast and much of California.  The Great Lakes, much of the Northeast, and the Pacific Northwest saw above normal precipitation during the month. 

Global Anomalies

March 2026 tied with March 2024 as the 2^nd warmest March on record for the globe since 1850.  Global temperatures were 2.36^o F above the 1901-2000 mean.  Of particular note this month were the very warm temperatures across the continental United States, and much below normal temperatures across northwest North America (Figure 8).

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