March 2012 was a record setting month. Several places in KELOLAND saw all-time record warmth, with many having at least one day of 80 degree weather. Eventually that lead to the warmest March on record. Sioux Falls had an average high of 63.5 degrees. That's 20 degrees above the climate average.
The lack of precipitation had fire crews working earlier than usual in western South Dakota. Locations in western South Dakota received less than a quarter inch of water. Downtown Rapid City only received five-hundredths all month, making it the driest March on record.
This March will be different. We'll have more temperature swings along with better chances for precipitation. The stormy pattern over the last couple of weeks in the central United States will continue. This is usually good news as it helps spread moisture north into KELOLAND.
Overall, the month will be close to average for temperatures though we will have periods of above and below average temps. Unfortunately, precipitation could be a toss-up. But the active pattern in the central United States has a chance to move north into the upper plains as the month goes on.
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