close

Our area spared from ‘March madness’

By Jack Hughes for The 2 min read
article image -

As we move through the month of March, we usually begin to see some rapid changes to our local weather. Although this year, February acted a lot like March with alternative periods of warm and wet, followed by cold and snow. Days are now getting longer and the increase in the amount and strength of March sunlight has a greater effect on warming the air.

On the first of the month, averages are 46 degrees for the high and 24 for the early morning low. By the end of the month, averages are 59 degrees and 36. Of course, temperatures can always be plus or minus 20 degrees from these figures. Records for the area are 88 degrees on March 25, 1929, and -3 below zero during the famous “Blizzard of 1993” on March 15 of that year.

It should be noted that below zero weather in March is rare and has never been recorded after March 16.

The Blizzard of 1993 was a major weather event that covered the entire east from Mississippi to Maine with huge amounts of snow. The mountains of North Carolina received 54 inches of snow and snow fell as far as south as the Gulf Coast.

As for our region, Uniontown reported 20 inches with Pittsburgh receiving 24 inches. Many locations reported 20 to 30 inches of snow as the blizzard roared through the area. Hurricane force winds were reported with the storm and travel was disrupted for days.

Another March snowstorm on March 3 in 1942 left 12 inches on the streets of Uniontown and 17 inches in Pittsburgh. March 6 and 7 1962 saw accumulations of 17 inches of the white stuff. Even near the end of the month on March 29 1970, the our area picked up 10 inches of spring snow.

Aside from the madness of some March snows, the month is also known for a more benign side, which usually brings forth some early spring blooms of daffodils and yellow forsythia, as well as a few white buds on the Cleveland pear trees.

The last two big storms to cross the country over the past 10 days did not have much of an impact on our region as they did in the Northeast, sparing us more record-breaking snow wind and cold.

Looking ahead, the next week or so appears to be in line for temperatures just a bit below normal and precipitation just a bit above average.

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $4.79/week.

Subscribe Today