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Prepared by Florida Climate Center
The Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL

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March Key Points:

  • Temperatures were above normal, while rainfall was below normal across Florida.
  • Abnormally dry conditions developed over peninsular Florida, and moderate drought developed in parts of the southern Peninsula by the end of the month.
  • La Niña Advisory continues but appears to be weakening.
  • CPC seasonal forecast favors above normal temperatures and equal chances of rainfall for spring.
  • Drought development continues to be a risk as temperatures warm during spring with seasonal reduction in rainfall, especially over peninsular Florida.

 

Average temperatures in March were above normal across the state. Average temperatures ranged from +1.7 ̊F to +4.8 ̊F above normal for the month (see Table 1 and Appendix 1 for select cities). Temperatures were especially warm during the middle and latter parts of the month, with summer-like temperatures observed in many locations. For instance, in Pensacola daily high temperatures averaged 8.8 ̊F above normal and daily low temperatures averaged 12.2 ̊F above normal from March 12-17. Jacksonville Beach observed its fifth warmest March on record, and Pensacola observed its seventh warmest March on record. Many daily high maximum and high minimum temperature records were set during the month (see Appendices 2 and 3).

Table 1.  March average temperatures and departures from normal ( ̊F) for selected cities.

Station Mean Temperature Departure from Normal
Pensacola 65.2 +4.8
Tallahassee 63.9 +3.5
Jacksonville 63.6 +1.9
Orlando 69.4 +2.5
Tampa 70.9 +3.6
Miami 74.5 +1.9
Key West 76.0 +2.8  

 

Rainfall totals in March were below normal across the state. Most of the Panhandle and peninsular Florida had below normal rainfall, with the exception of a few isolated locations in the western Panhandle and north central Florida (Figure 1). Monthly departures from normal ranged from -1.13 inches in Miami to -4.11 inches in Tallahassee (Table 2 and Appendix 1). Homestead observed its driest March on record, with a recorded 0.07 inches of rainfall during the month. Lakeland had its second driest March on record, and Key West had its third driest March on record.

Table 2. March precipitation totals and departures from normal (inches) for selected cities.

Station Total Rainfall Departure from Normal
Pensacola 4.55 -1.26
Tallahassee 1.83 -4.11
Jacksonville 2.82 -1.13
Orlando 2.03 -1.74
Tampa 1.07 -1.96
Miami 1.87 -1.13
Key West 0.05 -2.0 

 

Figure 1. A graphical depiction of the monthly rainfall departure from normal (inches) for March (courtesy of NOAA, NWS).

Figure 1.  A graphical depiction of the monthly rainfall departure from normal (inches) for March (courtesy of NOAA, NWS).

 

La Niña Conditions in the Pacific Continue but Weaken.

La Niña conditions continued during March but it has weakened recently, and forecasters estimate a shift to ENSO-neutral conditions this spring (~60% chance for April-June). ENSO-neutral conditions are then expected to continue at least through the Northern Hemisphere summer. La Niña conditions have returned with above-average temperatures and drier than average conditions across much of the southern tier of the U.S.

 

Hazardous Weather Events in March.

According to the Local Storm Reports issued by the local National Weather Service offices serving Florida, there were 127 individual local reports of hazardous weather events recorded across the state during the month of March (see Table 4 for a breakdown by event type). A wildfire was reported on March 16th in Big Cypress National Preserve, with portions of the preserve closed to the public and smoke possibly causing issues on HWY 41 and SR 29. Strong rip currents at Miramar Beach and Miami Beach resulted in multiple rescues and three fatalities during the month.

 

Table 4. Breakdown of storm reports submitted in Florida during the month of March (compiled from Iowa State University/Iowa Environmental Mesonet).

Report Type Number of Reports
Marine Thunderstorm Wind 6
Non-Thunderstorm Wind Damage 2
Non-Thunderstorm Wind Gust 42
Tornado/Waterspout/Funnel Cloud 6/4/0
Thunderstorm Wind Damage 14
Thunderstorm Wind Gust 17
Hail 15
Flood/FLash Flood 1/0
Heavy Rain 17
Rip Currents 2
Wildfire 1

 

Drought-Related Impacts.

By the end of March 2021, abnormally dry conditions were widespread across the Florida Peninsula and parts of the southern Peninsula were in moderate drought. In early to mid-March, abnormally dry conditions existed across much of the Florida Peninsula and the western Panhandle regions. By the end of the month, pockets of moderate drought had formed in extreme southwestern Florida and southeast Florida. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 46 percent of the state was in abnormally dry conditions (D0) and 2 percent in moderate drought (D1) by the end of the month. Dry conditions are expected to continue, and the seasonal drought outlook indicates that drought development is likely through the spring across the Peninsula.

As of March 31, the Lake Okeechobee water level was at 14.44 ft. above sea level (Feet-NGVD29), which is right about average for this time of the year. At the first of the month, the water level was 15.32 ft. above sea level.

 

drought monitor

 

Agriculture-Related Impacts.

For the month of March, the Crop Progress - State Stories, produced monthly December through March, for Florida indicates that some pastures dried out by the end of the month due to warmer temperatures and a lack of rainfall. Cattle conditions remained mostly good during the month, and sugarcane harvesting continued. As temperatures rose during the month, Whiteflies and pest pressure were noted on vegetable crops in the southern part of the state. Many citrus fruits were harvested, including white and red grapefruit, Valencia oranges, and Honey, Tango and Royal tangerines. Field corn was planted and land was prepared for peanut and cotton crops in the Panhandle and northern parts of the state.

 

Appendix 1
Additional March departures from normal data for select Florida locations (Source: NWS).

Station Average Temperature (˚F) Departure from Normal (˚F) Total Rainfall (in.) Departure from Normal (in.)
Gainesville 64.9 +2.6 3.24 -1.09
Sarasota 69.1 +2.5 1.84 -2.02
Melbourne 69.7 +3.8 0.87 -2.41
Fort Myers 71.6 +1.7 0.40 -2.48
West Palm Beach 74.4 +3.9 0.96 -3.63

 

Appendix 2
Select daily record high maximum temperatures tied or broken during March (compiled from NOAA).

Location Date Record (˚F) Broken/Tied Last
Clermont 1 91 Broken 89 in 2017
Sanford 1 89 Broken 87 in 1997
Lakeland 1 88 Broken 86 in 1991
Plant City 2 89 Tied 89 in 2019
Vero Beach 17 89 Broken 87 in 1990
Orlando 17 89 Broken 88 in 2016
Punta Gorda 18 89 Tied 89 in 2015
Fort Pierce 19 90 Tied 90 in 1965
Clermont 26 94 Broken 90 in 1954
Hastings 26 87 Broken 86 in 2002
Lisbon 26 88 Broken 87 in 1965
Plant City 26 94 Broken 91 in 1974
Sanford 26 92 Broken 89 in 1974
Gainesville 26 89 Broken 87 in 2020
Jacksonville 26 90 Broken 88 in 1965
Marianna 27 88 Tied 88 in 2020
Tampa 27 90 Broken 89 in 2020
Clermont 28 94 Broken 91 in 2016
West Palm Beach 28 88 Tied 88 in 2016
Pensacola 28 86 Broken 84 in 2020
Daytona Beach 29 89 Broken 87 in 1961
Stuart 29 90 Broken 89 in 1996
Tarpon Springs 30 90 Broken 89 in 1997
Tampa 30 88 Broken 87 in 2020
Naples 31 90 Broken 88 in 2008
Punta Gorda 31 92 Broken 90 in 1981

 

Appendix 3
Select daily record high minimum temperatures tied or broken during March (compiled from NOAA).

Location Date Record (˚F) Broken/Tied Last
Daytona Beach 1 71 Broken 68 in 2003
Hastings 1 64 Broken 62 in 1998
Melbourne 1 69 Tied 69 in 1997
Mountain Lake 1 81 Broken 69 in 2003
Daytona Beach 1 69 Broken 66 in 2017
Orlando 1 72 Broken 68 in 2018
Tampa 1 71 Broken 70 in 2017
Punta Gorda 2 76 Broken 71 in 2007
Lakeland 2 69 Tied 69 in 1991
Pensacola 16 70 Broken 67 in 2016
Marianna 17 67 Broken 65 in 2002
Pensacola 17 72 Broken 69 in 1982
Tallahassee 17 67 Broken 66 in 2016
Chipley 18 71 Broken 67 in 1982
Fort Lauderdale Beach 18 74 Tied 74 in 2014
Key West 18 77 Tied 77 in 1986
Orlando 18 69 Broken 68 in 1943
West Palm Beach 18 74 Broken 73 in 2020
Mountain Lake 26 79 Broken 73 in 2015
Perrine 26 72 Broken 70 in 2016
Marianna 26 73 Broken 64 in 2017
Daytona Beach 26 70 Broken 67 in 1949
West Palm Beach 26 76 Broken 74 in 2005
Orlando 26 71 Broken 69 in 2020
Pensacola 26 72 Broken 68 in 2020
Tallahassee 26 69 Broken 66 in 2005
Chipley 27 72 Broken 67 in 1959
Fort Lauderdale Beach 27 75 Tied 75 in 2005
Jasper 27 66 Broken 64 in 2005
Perry 27 71 Broken 67 in 2011
Wewahitchka 27 69 Broken 67 in 1984
Hastings 29 67 Broken 65 in 2009
Sanford 29 70 Broken 69 in 2016
Tampa 29 73 Broken 72 in 2020
Key West 30 77 Tied 77 in 2020
Vero Beach 30 73 Tied 73 in 1990
Fort Pierce 31 75 Broken 73 in 1929
Perrine 31 73 Broken 71 in 2011
Vero Beach 31 74 Broken 72 in 1980
Lakeland 31 71 Broken 70 in 1975
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