Is spring really here? I think so
It looks like the mild weather pattern that has prevailed all winter will continue into March as forecasts indicate a continuation of the above-normal temperatures and rain rather than snow. This past week saw temperatures in the 50s and 60s and this coming week promises more of the same, with even a couple of 70-degree days possible.
If you like to watch the weather as I do, this past Wednesday was certainly a weather-watch day. The morning low temperature was 61 degrees with a thunderstorm. The high for the day was 64 degrees around 10 a.m. Home barometers had been falling rapidly and then took a sudden jump as the winds picked up with the approach of a cold front. Gusty winds continued all day and, fortunately, the tornadoes stayed to our west although we did have some internet and power interruptions.
As the colder air arrived heavy downpours hit the area and by 8 p.m. temperatures were below freezing with a few snow showers. Just a side note, that on Feb. 28, 1934 the temperature dropped to an almost unbelievable 16 degrees below zero in Uniontown.
March temperatures average 30 degrees for the morning low and 52 for the afternoon high. Lows start out at 24 degrees on the first and end up near 36 by month’s end. Highs begin around 46 degrees and rise to 59 at the end of the month.
Records for March are 3 below zero on the 15th during the Blizzard of 1993 and a high of 88 degrees on the 25th in 1929. The Blizzard also dropped 25 to 35 inches of snow across Southwestern Pennsylvania on the 13th and 14th of 1993.
Average snowfall for March is 8 inches. On average March sees 19 days with morning lows of 32 or below but only two days when the thermometer fails to get above freezing. Below-zero weather only happens once every five years and has never occurred after the 14th of the month.
Across Pennsylvania, March has seen a high of 92 in Everett, Bedford County and a low of 31 below zero on March 18, 1916 in Potter County. Mt Davis in nearby Somerset County saw 81 inches of snow in 1999 and Skidmore in Lawrence County saw no precipitation in March of 1910.
If you look closely you can see the unfolding of spring as White Snowdrops and Yellow Daffodils begin their journey along with a few buds on trees and bushes.
White Snowdrops will soon be blooming as spring begins to unfold.
I think you will like the new weather pattern as long as it does not get too dry too soon as this would make for dangerous fire conditions that are plaguing Texas and other western states.
Perhaps I will see you on the bike trail as March should make for some great biking and hiking and nature viewing.