March was much like a lion for the first four days, during which time we experienced a Northeaster that delivered 5.03 inches of snow and very cold temperatures. On the whole however, March had average temperatures, below normal precipitation and above average sunshine. The temperatures averaged 37.0 degrees, 0.2 degrees per day below the average. Maximum temperature was 64.0 degrees on the 7th and a minimum temperature of 12.0 degrees was recorded on the 4th. Daytime high temperatures averaged 45.0 degrees, 0.2 degrees below the norm. Evening temperatures averaged 29.0 degrees, 0.2 degrees below the norm.
Sunshine totaled 57% of the possible sunshine hours, 9 points above the norm. Nine days had no sunshine, yet thirteen days had over 90% sunshine. Sunshine data are from the Blue Hill Observatory. 2009 sunshine is 59% of the possible. The record for this same time period from the Blue Hill Observatory is 60%, set back in 1978.
Precipitation totaled 3.58 inches. This is 1.02 inches below normal. We had measurable precipitation of 0.10 inches or greater rainfall on seven days. The largest 24-hour rainfall was 1.31 inches on the 29th - 30th. We have received a total of 9.98 inches of rainfall year to date, totaling 2.84 inches below average for East Wareham. We had only one event with measurable snowfall during the month, totaling 5.3 inches. The 2008 – 2009 winter season snowfall recorded in East Wareham is now at 46.53 inches. This will come in as 13.34 inches above the average snowfall in East Wareham.