By Bill Kappel
March this year had its usual swings between winter and spring and was of course punctuated by a major snowstorm during the middle of the month. Temperatures were a little below average overall, but there were no real cold or warm periods. Precipitation and snowfall were above average again, which is good news because moisture during this time of the year is critical for the start of the growing season. After a slow start to the snowfall this season, we have managed to put three months in a row of above normal snowfall, bringing our seasonal total to above average and we still have another month or so of good snowfall potential.
The month started off mild, with highs reaching the upper 50s to low 60s, about 15-20 degrees warmer than normal for the start of March. This was interrupted by a quick-moving cold front that brought a dusting of snow and cooler temperatures on the 3rd and 4th. After a couple of dry days, another cold front moved in bringing a couple days of unsettled conditions. This produced a couple inches of snowfall along with a few rumbles of thunder on the 8th. This was our first sign of the changing seasons as we begin to see more convective activity in the atmosphere.
Quiet and mild conditions then moved back in over the next several days as the atmosphere began to build up moisture and energy ahead of an anomalously strong and unsettled pattern that would bring significant impacts to the region during the second week of the month.
This next storm was a combination of several unusual factors that normally don’t all come together at once over our region. First was a cold upper-level area of low pressure moving out of the Pacific Northwest and dropping south along the Intermountain West. At the same time, low-level wind fields began to draw in moisture from the southeast out of the Gulf of Mexico. And finally, a cold front began to slide down the Front Range of the Rockies. This combination of factors set the stage for a widespread, heavy snow event across the region.
The area of upper-level low pressure cut off from the main flows sat over northern Arizona/Southern Utah for several days, sending several waves of energy over the region to help enhance lift. This made very efficient work of the moisture that moved in from the Gulf of Mexico, and cold air ensured snow for the Palmer Divide. The first signs of the storm began during the late afternoon of the 13th, with scattered snow showers. Snow began to fall heavily later that evening, with several inches accumulating before midnight. Temperatures continued to cool as well, and winds kicked in. This produced heavy snow and strong winds, with blizzard conditions through the night and into to the next morning. Snowfall accumulated at rates of 2-3 inches per hour at times, with over a foot by the time the sun came up on the 14th.
Snow continued through the day and into the night, with another 8-12 inches accumulating before midnight. The storm finally began to wind down the next morning, leaving behind a winter wonderland. Around the Palmer Divide, anywhere from 20-30 inches of snow accumulated, causing travel issues and some fallen trees. But we didn’t get the worst of it. In the foothills, 40-60 inches accumulated, making this the largest snowfall since our infamous March 2003 storm. See the photo on page 24.
Of course, the good news with this storm was the beneficial moisture that it left behind, with 2-3 inches of liquid equivalent that slowly melted into the soil over the next couple weeks.
Mostly sunny conditions and quiet weather moved back in from the 16th through the 23rd, and the strong March sun angle began the process of melting the snow a few inches each day. By the time the last storm of the month moved in on the 24th, most of the snowfall from the previous event had melted away. The exceptions were the large drifts and piles in the shaded and forested regions. This final storm was colder than previous storms and produced more wind and blowing snow, but because it was colder it did not have as much moisture to work with. Therefore, only 2-6 inches of new snow fell throughout the region on the 24th and 25th.
Once again, the springtime atmosphere was unstable as well, producing some thundersnow and graupel during the afternoon of the 24th. This was further evidenced by the convective snow showers that developed during the afternoon of the 26th behind the departing storm, very reminiscent of summer thunderstorms developing over the mountains and moving off the Front Range and over the Palmer Divide, only this time of the year they produce snow instead of rain.
After this last storm departed, mild air and quiet conditions again returned. The month ended with temperatures moving from the 40s to the upper 50s and low 60s along with gusty winds at times.
A look ahead
April is known for a wide range of weather conditions in the region and is on average our snowiest month of the year. We can see 70° temperatures one afternoon and blizzard conditions the next. Several recent years have seen over 50 inches of snow accumulate during the month. Of course, it also melts very quickly, often adding beneficial moisture to the soil and helping the vegetation, which is just getting started.
March 2024 Weather Statistics
Average High 47.6° (-4.4°)
100-year return frequency value max 57.9° min 38.0°
Average Low 23.0° (+1.4°)
100-year return frequency value max 27.0° min 12.0°
Highest Temperature 60° on the 2nd
Lowest Temperature 8° on the 28th
Monthly Precipitation 2.35” (+0.75”, 32% above normal)
100-year return frequency value max 4.29” min 0.22”
Monthly Snowfall 37.9” (+17.6”, 47% above normal)
Season to Date Snow 127.4” (+36.6”, 29% above normal)
(the snow season is from July 1 to June 30)
Season to Date Precip. 5.39” (+2.15”, 40% above normal)
(the precip season is from Oct 1 to Sept 30)
Heating Degree Days 922(+9)
Cooling Degree Days 0
Bill Kappel is a meteorologist and Tri-Lakes resident. He can be reached at billkappell@ocn.me.
Other weather articles
- November Weather Wrap (12/5/2024)
- October Weather Wrap (11/2/2024)
- September Weather Wrap (10/5/2024)
- August Weather Wrap (9/7/2024)
- July Weather Wrap (8/3/2024)
- June Weather Wrap (7/6/2024)
- May Weather Wrap (6/1/2024)
- April Weather Wrap (5/4/2024)
- February Weather Wrap (3/2/2024)
- January Weather Wrap (2/3/2024)