We now share the Maryland Climate Bulletin for March 2024 - shared from state climatologist

[dallen7908]

https://www2.atmos.umd.edu/~climate/Bulletin/bulletin_mdsco_current.pdf

 

Points to highlight are:

1) Statewide averages show this month was warmer and wetter than normal. This is the fourth consecutive month with temperatures warmer than normal.

2) Regionally speaking, mean temperatures were warmer than normal everywhere, especially in Garrett County (around 6.0°F) and portions of Montgomery and Frederick counties (around 5.2°F). Precipitation was above normal almost everywhere, especially in the southeastern counties of Wicomico, Somerset, and Worcester counties (above 4 in), which received 190-200% of their climatological precipitation.

 

3) Drought conditions were absent again, and above-normal streamflow was present throughout the state at the end of March 2024. 

 

4) Mean temperatures showed significant warming trends (1895-2024) everywhere in the state except Garrett and Allegany counties; the larger trends are found over the northern-central counties, with a maximum over Baltimore City (3.0°F/century). Precipitation displayed non-significant trends, with the largest wetting and drying trends occurring in Baltimore and Garrett counties. 

 

5) Mean, maximum, and minimum statewide temperatures in March 2024 (48.2, 58.6, and 37.7°F) were above the long-term averages and among the 10% of the highest values (1895-2023). Statewide precipitation in this month (5.67 in) was also above the long-term average and within the10% of the highest values.

 

6)  March 2024 was the second wettest March on record in Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties, the fourth wettest in Caroline and Dorchester counties, and the fifth wettest in Calvert and Saint Mary’s counties.

 

7)  So far this year, statewide minimum temperatures indicate the state has had 4 fewer freezing days (daily minimum temperature less than or equal to 32°F) than the climatology (61 days for the period 1991-2020).

 

The bulletin is issued once per month and shows the state's recent monthly surface temperature and precipitation conditions in a simple format, helping Marylanders better understand regional climate variations.

Please help disseminate this bulletin.

 

Thanks,

 

Alfredo Ruiz-Barradas, PhD 

Associate Research Professor

Maryland State Climatologist