Last month turned out to be the warmest
March ever recorded in Oklahoma and one of the wettest.
Associate State Climatologist Gary McManus said Sunday the March
statewide average temperature was 59.4 degrees, more than 9 degrees
above normal. The previous record was 58.3 degrees from March 2007.
Besides the state record, Oklahoma City and Tulsa had record
warmth in March, reaching averages of 60.8 degrees and 61.5
degrees, respectively.
The warmest day of the month came on Saturday, when temperatures
reached the 80s and 90s statewide. McManus says 90 degrees at
Beaver was the hottest temperature.
Heavy rain also helped to ease Oklahoma’s long-term drought.
McManus said the statewide average precipitation total was 4.5
inches, ranking March as the sixth wettest on record and 1.4 inches
above normal.