MONTHLY WEATHER SUMMARY
By Bill Mork
California Department of Water Resources
March 2004

Read the full March 2004 California Climate Watch newsletter here: Word Format or PDF format

March 2004 turned out to be dry and unusually warm in the Golden State, setting new monthly average temperature records at 82 locations in California according to preliminary data. There were also a number of locations which set records for highest monthly average maximum temperatures. Above normal temperatures and nearly full seasonal sunshine combined to cause early snowmelt and about a 25 percent loss in snowpack water content during the month. As a result, April through July runoff forecasts were reduced about 20 percent form those of last month. Runoff forecasts in the Sacramento River region are still near historic median levels, but southern Sierra river runoff is expected to be considerably below normal. There is enough snowpack and water in storage to avoid drought this year, but supplies may be short in some areas in the southern part of the Central Valley.

March 2004 precipitation in California averaged about 1/3 of normal, with percents of normal a little above this in the north and below this at most locations in the Southland. Pacific weather systems of note were limited to 1 - 3 March and 24 - 27 March. According to preliminary data, the greatest totals were 11.58 inches at Strawberry Valley in the Feather basin and 11.08 inches at Gasquet in the Smith basin.

A strong upper level ridge of high pressure and offshore flow contributed to an amazing total of 384 record high temperatures set or tied in California 7 - 23 March. The San Francisco and Monterey Bay areas had 105 of these records. The Sacramento city weather station had high temperature records set or tied on 13 of 14 days March 8 - 21. High temperatures were 80 or higher on all 14 days, easily breaking the old March record of 8 days of 80 or higher set in 2001. The average monthly temperature of 62.5 degrees was 5.4 degrees above normal, breaking the old record of 61.5 in 1934. The average monthly high temperature of 75.4 degrees was 8.4 degrees above normal, smashing the old record of 73.3 in 1997.

Bakersfield set or tied 25 daily high temperature or high minimum temperature records; the average monthly temperature of 65.1 degrees was 7.8 degrees above normal, breaking the old record of 65.0 set in 1934. The high of 94 at Bakersfield on March 29 was the warmest ever in the month of March. Bakersfield also had a record 17 days with 80 or higher and a record 3 days with 90 or higher. The record high temperature of 101 at Death Valley on March 20 was the earliest date on record with 100 degrees or higher at Death Valley.

Page last updated 5/20/04.