March 1: The First Spring Month
"The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month." Henry Van Dyke wrote this in a book, called "Fisherman's Luck." Long-time Upper Michigan residents certainly agree with his words. Astronomical spring may start during the third week of this new month, however, March is usually a winter month for the Upper Peninsula.
On March 1, 1962, the temperature plummeted to 27 below zero at the National Weather Service near Negaunee. More recently, an unseasonably bitter air mass brought an all-time record-low of 30 below on March 3, 2003.
As for snow, some of our biggest storms occur during March as the seasonal shift in temperature makes more moisture available from the Gulf of Mexico. Of course, there is the time-honored "St. Patty's Day Storm," which, by the way, has actually occurred on the holiday only once during the last 45-plus years. On March 17-18, 1965 a foot or more of snow fell across a good share of the Upper Peninsula followed by record-setting cold. Last March, there was a big snow, at least for parts of the central and eastern U.P on March 2-4. A total of 24.6 inches fell at the National Weather Service (NWS). A few days later the big meltdown began leading to a record-warm March. The last time a big hit the whole U.P. was on March 31, 2008. The snow began on the last day of the month and continued into April Fool’s Day. Nearly two feet of snow fell at the National Weather Service (NWS) near Negaunee.
Spring occasionally exerts its muscle over the U.P. in March. In 2010, it turned warm at the outset and stayed warm. The mean temperature at the National Weather Service (NWS) was over 10 degrees above average. Eleven years ago, record-breaking temperatures were set during the first eight days. A blast of warm air brought six consecutive record highs including the all-time March high of 71 on March 8, 2000. And who could forget last year; historic warmth became established at mid-month. All snow was gone by around St. Patty’s Day and the month ended 15.5 degrees above average.
So what does this month hold in store for us? It looks quiet and chilly to start. A huge high-pressure area over northeastern Canada ridging into the Upper Great Lakes will likely hold into at least the first of next week (Image 2). That means temperatures a little below average with no significant snow.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWLUC