March Was Warmer, Drier Than Average In Boston

BOSTON, MA — Last month was slightly warmer and drier than average in Boston, according to newly released data from the National Weather Service.

The average temperature in March was 41.4 degrees, slightly higher than the 30-year average of 38.3 degrees. It was the 12th-warmest March on record, NWS said, well below the record high average of 47.2 degrees set in 1946.

Precipitation in general — both snow and rain — were down over the last month, as well. Snow in particular was only a fraction of what would be expected: 2.1 inches, while the average is nine. On average, Boston will see 4.17 inches of rain in March, while last month only had 2.93 inches.

While March 18 had the unseasonable high of 68 degrees, it was nowhere near the record-high 89 degrees recorded in March 1998. On the other end of the spectrum, the chilly low temperature of 17 degrees on March 1 and 4 was positively balmy compared to the record low of negative eight degrees set in 1872.