Sheldon, Iowa — March was a fairly average month temperature wise, but quite unusual as far as precipitation and snowfall.
The average high temperature recorded in Sheldon during March was 44-degrees, which is just one degree warmer than the 43-degree normal average high for March, but 5-degrees cooler than the 49-degree average high in March of 2021. The warmest temperature recorded during March this year was 66, which was recorded on both March 17th and 22nd. The coolest high for the month was recorded on March 12th when the mercury struggled to reach a high of 14-degrees.
The average low temperature for this March was 22, which matches the average March low, but is 6-degrees cooler than the average low of 28 we saw during March of last year. The lowest temperature we saw during March of this year was -4, which was recorded on both March 12th and 13th. The warmest low temperature for the month of 32 was recorded on March 17th, 23rd, 24th, 25th and 30th.
As far as moisture for March of this year, we saw more moisture than normal, but FAR less than normal snowfall for the month. In a normal March, Sheldon sees an average of 1.96-inches of precipitation, which is a combination of rainfall and the moisture contained in any snowfall during the month. This march we were 0.36-inches above normal on precipitation. Snowfall, however, was an entirely different kettle of fish. We received just 1.3-inches of the white stuff during March, which is 7.4-inches BELOW the normal March snowfall of 8.7-inches.
And finally, normally by the end of March, Sheldon receives a snowfall-season total of 34.8-inches. However, this season we’ve received just 15.05-inches of the white stuff, putting us 19.75-inches BELOW normal on snowfall since the first flake of the winter season.
