A rare early April sight. Blooming Tulips from Mayo Clinic Courtyard April 1st 2012.

Is this really a surprise? It’s Official and safe to say this March was the warmest ever in the local area! Its quite more complicated then that becuase goes further then that, it is also going down as the warmest march on record for the state and most of the Midwest! NWS La Crosse said the average temperature for March this year at the Rochester Airport was 49.F, which is 16 degrees above normal! Many monthly records were broken at the Rochester Airport including the earliest occurrence of 80.F, (81.F March 17th) record high dewpoint ( 62 March 16th) and Second longest stretch of 70s in March.

Checking the numbers!

I checked stations number and the the average high was 61.F with an average low of 40.F. The warmest temp observed in March at my station was 83.F, and the warmest low was 64.F. The temp rose above 70 12 times at my station, and above 80 3 times. The warmth has really shown its effects through out the area in the form of a very early Spring Greenup! We had trees breaking dormancy and Daffodils in bloom before the calender 1st day of Spring and Tulips and Lilacs were starting to bloom across the city around the time normally you may be able to find Crocus blooming around the snowbanks in a more seasonable year! Many residents have said how strange it is to mow lawn in March and it’s beyond unusual, its downright crazy for most. Some have even dared to plant tender annuals and vegetables already which is more a May thing! The growing season is at least one month ahead of a typical year.

More information on this warm up for the local area, and other parts of Southeastern Minnesota can be found at the NWS La Cross Record March Temps page.