March 2012 becomes Warmest March on Record

March 2012: the Warmest March on Record in
Tulsa, Fort Smith, McAlester, Fayetteville, and Bartlesville

March 2012: the Warmest March on Record in
the contiguous U.S., Oklahoma, and Arkansas

March 2012 was the hottest March on record for several locations in eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas, including Tulsa, OK and Fort Smith, AR where over 100 years of long term records exist.  Preliminary numbers also indicate that March 2012 is the hottest March ever for the entire states of Oklahoma and Arkansas (plus 23 other states), as well as for the entire contiguous United States!  Across the country, 15,292 warm temperature records were broken (7,775 daytime records, 7,517 nighttime records).  For more information about why March was so warm across much of the country, visit:
www.esrl.noaa.gov/psd/csi/events/2012/marchheatwave/

New Hottest March on Record Set:

Tulsa, OK:  March 2012 was 61.5°F, which is 10.2°F above normal.  This is also warmer than 60% of all Aprils on record!  The previous record was 61.3°F in 1910 (records began in 1905).

Fort Smith, AR: March 2012 was 63.6°F, which is 10.7°F above normal.  This is also warmer than 76% of all Aprils on record!  The previous record was 62.6°F in 1907 (records began in 1883).

McAlester, OK: March 2012 was 62.6°F, which is 9.4°F above normal.  The previous record was 60.9°F in 2007 (records began in 1954 with 2 missing years).

Fayetteville, AR: March 2012 was 57.9°F, which is 9.8°F above normal.  The previous record was 56.2°F in 2007 (records began in 1950).

Bartlesville, OK: March 2012 was 59.1°F, which is 10.3°F above normal.  This ties the record in 1921 (records began in 1920 with 3 missing years).

So does having the hottest March mean that we are going to have a hot April and May this year too?  Does this mean a another hot summer too?  The March temperature doesn't tell us anything about what the next month will be like, let alone several months into the future.  The tables below provide the Top 10 Hottest Marches and how the following April, May, and Summer for those years ranked.  Take a look at 1907 for example: 1907 was the 4th warmest March in Tulsa, followed by the coldest April and May on record!  In Fort Smith, March 1907 was the 2nd warmest March, followed by the 2nd coldest April and the Coldest May on record!

Find more information about Tulsa temperatures and Fort Smith temperatures from the Weather Record Book websites.  Additional information, including other cities in eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas, can be found from the NWS Tulsa local climate website.

 Daily "warmest" Temperature Records Set or Tied in March 2012: