On Monday we will flip the calendar to March and the start of meteorological spring. While some like the snow and cold of winter I like the warmth of late spring and summer. That is by far my favorite time of the year. During March we start out with 11 hours and 14 minutes between sun rise and sunset and end March with 12 hours and 42 minutes and by the end of May we are at 15 hours and 7 minutes. Grand Rapids starts out with a average H/L of 38/23 on March 1st and ends March with 51/32 and by the end of May we are at 74/53. We also go from snow on the ground to brown ground to lush green between March 1st and May 31st.
For March, the average mean temperature is 35.6° the warmest mean March temperature is 50.7° set in 2012. The coldest March mean is 23.9 set in 1960. The warmest reading in any March is 87 set on March 21, 2012 and the coldest low is -13 set on March 8, 1943. On average March has 7.9” of snow fall the most for any March is 36.0” set in 1965. In March of 1910, no snow was reported to fall at Grand Rapids and in 1945 just a trace fell. On average there are 20 days in March of 40 or better. The record most is 31 in 2010 in 1973 there were 28 days of 40 or better. The least number of days was just 1 in 1965 and in 1960 there were 4. As for 50 or better the average is 9 the most is 21 in 2012 and the least is 0 set is several years. And as for 60 or better the 30-year mean is 4 and the most is 19 in 2012. The least is none and that has happened is many years. As for 70 and above the 30-year average is 1 and the most is 10 in 2012 and 1945 and for 80? The most is 5 in 2012 and there are 4 other years that had 1.
For the spring season the average mean is 47.5 the warmest mean spring temperature was 54.1 in 2012. The coldest mean temperature for any spring was 42.3 in 1997. The warmest day is 95 set on May 31st, 1934 and the coldest low is -13 set on March 8, 1943. The average snow fall for spring is 10.8” the most to fall is 41.4” in 1965. The least was a trace in 1910 and 1945. On average the sun shines just over 50% of the time in the 3-month spring period.
So now it will soon be time to see how March and spring of 2021 will play out. I for one hope we have a mild spring with some thunderstorms but no storms that a lot of damage or hurt or kill anyone. One thing we will have to keep a eye on is that we can get through March without any ice storms and then the rest of spring without any killing frost. And as I said no storms that causes injuries or worse.
Slim
My car thermometer says 50 degrees. Just saw a dude in a convertible with the top down. I am enjoying the clear skies as of late.
It was 52 up here in Traverse Today!
I have to agree with you Slim, spring is probably my favorite time of year. I really enjoy the increasing daylight and temperatures and the approach of summer. Plus after a long winter (of which this was not… but every winter in Michigan seems long!) it is nice to get some sun. Side note: For December, January, February this year, I would say this was one of the easier winters. The past few weeks were exciting though with all the cold/snow, which we haven’t seen in a couple years. But I am definitely ready to turn the page to spring… Read more »
We picked up half an inch of snow overnight – currently 33.6 degrees