March 2008

Report and Summary

Tyler, Texas
March 2008
by Robert K. Peters, Ph.D.
National Weather Service Cooperating Observer

The month of March 2008 was cooler and wetter than normal. Compared with March 2007, the month was 5.4 degrees cooler, and 3.96 inches wetter. Year-to-date rainfall through March 31 was 0.28 inch less in 2008 than in 2007. The thirty-day outlook had called for above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation. The week February 24-March 1 saw near normal temperatures and rainfall about 15 percent of normal. The week began very warm, cooled during the middle, and warmed significantly again late in the week. The week's only rainfall came with a weak crossing disturbance on the 1st. Dense fog shrouded the region on the morning of the 1st. Windy conditions were observed ahead of and behind the cold front of the 25th. The week's average temperature was 57.0 deg., with precipitation of 0.15 inch. This was 7.1 deg. Warmer than the previous week. Compared with the same week in 2007, the week was 0.6 deg. Warmer, and 0.05 inch wetter.

The week March 2-8 saw temperatures about 8 degrees colder than normal, and precipitation about 300 percent of normal. Two powerful storm systems crossed during the week, with a trace of snow falling in Tyler on the morning of the 4th, and one- half inch on the morning of the 7th. Both storm systems brought significant rainfall, and severe weather accompanied the first storm system on the morning of the 3rd. The week began warm, cooled sharply, warmed briefly on the afternoon of the 5th, and cooled significantly again on the 6th. Windy conditions followed the two cold fronts, with strong winds ahead of the front of the 6th. The week's average temperature was 49.9 deg., which was 7.1 deg. Colder than the previous week. Precipitation was 3.00 inches. Compared with the same week in 2007, the week was 7.5 deg. Colder, and there was no precipitation in 2007.

The week March 9-15 saw temperatures about a degree above normal, and rainfall near normal. A weak cold front and upper air storm on the 10th brought the week's rain, and held down temperatures until mid-week. At that point, the mercury rose rapidly, with record readings on the 14th. A weak cold front that night lowered readings only slightly. Upper air high pressure controlled the region's weather after the 12th. The week's average temperature was 60.2 deg., and precipitation was 0.73 inch. This was 10.3 deg. Warmer than the previous week. Compared with the same week in 2007, the week was 3.4 deg. Cooler, and 0.12 inch drier.

The week March 16-22 saw temperatures about 2 degrees above normal, and near normal rainfall. Temperatures recovered early in the week, and were above normal until a strong storm system, resulting in severe weather, crossed on the 18th. Temperatures cooled to near normal levels at mid-week, before rising at week's end. Rainfall north of the IH-30 Corridor was as much as seven inches on the 17th and 18th. A small tornado caused minor property damage in parts of Rusk and Gregg Counties on the evening of the 18th. The week's average temperature was 62.5, which was which was 2.3 deg. Warmer than the previous week. Precipitation was 0.99 inch. Compared with the same week in 2007, the week was 6.9 deg. Cooler and there was no rain in 2007.

The week March 23-29 saw temperatures about 2 degrees warmer than normal, and rainfall about 5 percent of normal. The week began cool, warmed at mid-week, and cooled again at late-week. A weak cold front crossed on the 28th, and became stationary before retreating back northward on the 30th. The week's average temperature was 60.5 deg., and precipitation was 0.05 inch. This was 2.0 deg. Cooler than the previous week. Compared with the same week in 2007, the week was 9.9 deg. Cooler, and 1.79 inches drier.

Major flooding occurred in parts of the region on the 30th, as the returning warm front interacted with ample moisture and upper air support to generate rains of 5-10 inches from Gregg County southward into Sabine County.

• KEY TO SYMBOLS:
• A = HAIL
• B = BLOWING
• D = DUST
• F = FOG
• H = HAZE
• IP = SLEET
• K = SMOKE
• L = DRIZZLE
• R = RAIN
• S = SNOW
• T = THUNDERSTORM
• Z = GREENWICH MEAN TIME
• ZL = FREEZING DRIZZLE
• ZR = FREEZING RAIN
• - = LIGHT
• + = HEAVY

R FOLLOWING A TEMPERATURE OR PRECIPITATION VALUE = RECORD

The reporting period for temperatures, precipitation, and phenomenon on each day is for the twenty-four hours ending at midnight hours GMT--6 p.m. CST and 7 p.m. CDT. All times are given using the twenty-four hour clock, and are expressed in Greenwich Mean Time.

Observations are from NWS Station 41/9207/4 in Tyler, Texas. The term "normal" refers to averages from the standard climatic period 1971-2000.

MARCH 2008

• 01 79 54 74 0.15 F, PCPN 0000-0100, 1500-1600
• 02 75 57 70 tr.
• 03 68 40 40 1.42 T, PCPN 1300-1800 MN 0000-1200 65, MX 1200-2400 67
• 04 58 34 54 0.03 S, PCPN 0700-0900
• 05 73 41 69
• 06 55 38 39 0.43 PCPN 2200-2400, MN 0000-1200 49
• 07 52 34 47 1.12 S, F, PCPN 0000-0900, 1000-1700
• 08 54 27 51
• 09 72 35 67
• 10 59 47 52 0.71 F, PCPN 0600-1400, MN 0000-1200 48, MX 1200-2400 53
• 11 66 44 60 0.02 F, PCPN 0200-0300
• 12 78 40 72
• 13 72 52 70
• 14 88R 61 84 T
• 15 75 53 67 MN 0000-1200 60
• 16 76 49 73
• 17 84 66 79
• 18 79 53 72 0.08 T, PCPN 2000-2200 MN 0000-1200 72
• 19 66 43 61 0.91 T, PCPN 0000-1100 MN 0000-1200 46
• 20 75 37 60
• 21 75 47 70
• 22 76 48 71
• 23 64 46 57 MN 0000-1200 51
• 24 66 37 62
• 25 76 48 71
• 26 79 60 74
• 27 84 63 78
• 28 72 59 64 tr. MN 0000-1200 63
• 29 75 55 72 0.05 T, PCPN 0900-1000
• 30 69 61 68 1.75 T, PCPN 0100-0300, 1100-1300, 1900-2100
• 31 80 68 75

MARCH 2008, RECORDS AND SUMMARY:

• 4TH SNOW TR.,
• 7TH SNOW 2.0 IN.,
• 14TH, RECORD HIGH MAXIMUM 88, PREVIOUS RECORD 86 FROM 1967, 1971, AND 1989;
• HIGHEST TEMPERATURE 88 ON THE 14TH,
• LOWEST TEMPERATURE 27 ON THE 8TH;
• AVERAGE MAXIMUM 68.4 F.,
• AVERAGE MINIMUM 48.1 F.,
• AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 58.3 F.;
• 2.0 DEG. COOLER THAN NORMAL.
• HEATING DEGREE DAYS 209,
• 118.1 PERCENT OF NORMAL HEATING DEGREE DAYS.
• COOLING DEGREE DAYS 46,
• 146.8 PERCENT OF NORMAL COOLING DEGREE-DAYS;
• TOTAL PRECIPITATION 6.67 IN.,
• 2.71 IN. GREATER THAN MONTHLY NORMAL.
• 171.0 PERCENT OF NORMAL MONTHLY PRECIPITATION.
• YEAR-TO-DATE PRECIPITATION 12.71 IN.,
• 1.68 IN. GREATER THAN NORMAL YEAR-TO-DATE PRECIPITATION,
• 115.2 PERCENT OF NORMAL YEAR-TO-DATE PRECIPITATION;
• 5 DAYS ON WHICH THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRED;
• 4 DAYS ON WHICH THE VISIBILITY WAS HEAVILY RESTRICTED BY FOG, SMOKE, OR HAZE;
• 0 DAYS ON WHICH THE VISIBILITY WAS RESTRICTED BY DUST OR BLOWING DUST;
• 2 DAYS ON WHICH FROZEN PRECIPITATION WAS OBSERVED;
• 2.0 IN. TOTAL SNOWFALL.
• 9 DAYS ON WHICH MEASURABLE PRECIPITATION OCCURRED.
• 0 DAYS ON WHICH THE MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE REACHED OR EXCEEDED 90 DEG.;
• 0 DAYS ON WHICH THE MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE REACHED OR EXCEEDED 100 DEG.;
• 0 DAYS ON WHICH THE TEMPERATURE FAILED TO RISE ABOVE 32 DEG.
• 1 DAYS ON WHICH THE MINIMUM TEMPERATURE REACHED OR FELL BELOW 32 DEG.
• 1885 SEASON-TO-DATE HEATING DEGREE DAYS,
• PERCENTAGE OF NORMAL SEASON-TO-DATE HEATING DEGREE DAYS: 99.4;
• 68 YEAR-TO-DATE COOLING DEGREE DAYS.
• PERCENTAGE OF NORMAL YEAR-TO-DATE COOLING DEGREE DAYS: 144.7.
• PRECIPITATION DURING THE PREVIOUS TWELVE MONTHS 57.53 IN.,
• TWELVE-MONTH PRECIPITATION PERCENTAGE 127.1.

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