March 2012 Likely Warmest on Record in Alabama

Brian first reported it here on AlabamaWX that it was the warmest March on record in Birmingham, but now we know that record will likely apply to the state of Alabama as well.

The monthly report is in from our fine State Climatologist, Dr. John Christy from UAH.  Dr. Christy is one of the best in the country. 

He reports that the numbers are not officially certified yet, but all indications are that March 2012 will go down in the record books as the warmest March on record in Alabama. 

The statewide average for the month was 64.3F, which is 9.1F degrees above “normal”.  The previous record was March 1907, which the statewide average was 9.05F degrees above “normal”. 

The numbers aren’t official yet, since he took those preliminary numbers from the ten major climate reporting sites in the state.  It takes some time to receive and integrate all of the numbers from the dozens of other smaller stations across the state. 

The winter of 2011-12 was the 12^th warmest on record.  It was the warmest since 1999.  He points out that this does not indicate a warming trend, since this warm winter follows on the heels of the 14^th coldest in 2010-11 and the 4^th coldest the year before.

Read the entire report here.

Category: Alabama's Weather