Globally, temperatures remained well above the long term average, but not near a record level. Relative to recent March averages, March 1999 was cooler, especially relative to the record anomaly of 1998. The bars in this graph are departures from the 1880-1998 mean.

Precipitation across the global land surface was well above the 1900-1998 long term average. The curved line is a nine-point binomial filter which shows the decadal-scale variations. See the Global Analysis and Global Regional Analyses pages for more details on the global climate.

larger image

larger image

Nationally, preliminary data for March 1999 indicate that temperatures averaged across the contiguous United States were above the long-term mean. The bars in this graph are departures from the 1895-1998 mean. The curved line is a nine-point binomial filter which shows the decadal-scale variations.

March 1999 was the 16th driest March since 1895 for the contiguous United States, based on preliminary data. This contrasts sharply with the wet conditions of March last year. The bars in this graph are departures from the 1895-1998 mean. The curved line is a nine-point binomial filter which shows the decadal-scale variations. See the U.S. National Analysis and U.S. Regional / Statewide Analyses pages for more details on the U.S. climate.

larger image

Extreme Events

Several weather related disasters occurred during the month of March 1999. Major events included floods and landslides in Europe from snow melt and precipitation; continued drought in portions of Vietnam, Somalia, Israel, parts of China, Kiribati and the United Kingdom; and memorable snow storms in the U.S. A full report on selected global extremes is available under the Climate-Watch, March 1999 page.

For further information, contact:

David Easterling
NOAA/National Climatic Data Center
151 Patton Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801-5001
fax: 828-271-4328
email: david.easterling@noaa.gov

Mike Changery
NOAA/National Climatic Data Center
151 Patton Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801-5001
fax: 828-271-4328
email: mchangry@ncdc.noaa.gov

Top of Page

NCDC / Climate Resources / Climate Research / Climate of 1999 / March / Search / Help