March 2012 Warmest On Record For Oklahoma

The month of March turned out to be the warmest March ever recorded and one of the wettest.

Associate State Climatologist Gary McManus said Sunday the March statewide average temperature was 59.4 degrees, more than 9 degrees above normal. The previous record was 58.3 degrees from March 2007.

Besides the state record, Oklahoma City and Tulsa had record warmth in March, reaching averages of 60.8 degrees and 61.5 degrees, respectively.

The warmest day of the month came on Saturday, when temperatures reached the 80s and 90s statewide. McManus says 90 degrees at Beaver was the hottest temperature.

Heavy rain also helped to ease Oklahoma's long-term drought. McManus said the statewide average precipitation total was 4.5 inches, ranking March as the sixth wettest on record and 1.4 inches above normal.