Last Updated on April 8, 2012 1:48 pm
The automatic weather station at the top of Grandfather Mountain recorded unseasonably warm temperatures during the month of March. The average high temperature for March was 53.1 degrees and the average low temperature was 39.5 degrees.
These numbers read just a bit warmer than the State Climate Office data from Mt. Mitchell State Park. The average high temperature at Mt. Mitchell was 50.7 degrees and the average low temperature was 37.2 degrees. The warmest temperature recorded at Grandfather during the month was 67.9 degrees on March 21.
The rainfall total of 3.88 inches for the past month was 1.85 inches, or 32 percent, below the 56-year average rainfall total for March of 5.73 inches. Rain for the year-to-date totals 11.82 inches, which is 3.17 inches (or 21 percent) below the norm for this time of year.
The snowfall total for March measured at Grandfather Mountain's Top Shop was two inches, falling 7.78 inches or 80 percent, short of the 56-year average snowfall total for the month of 9.78 inches. Employees were not able to get to the top of the Mountain to record snow totals March 5. Using this measurement, Grandfather Mountain has had 10.3 inches of snow for the winter-to-date compared to the norm of 47.2 inches for this point in the season.
Grandfather Mountain measures precipitation at multiple locations on the Mountain. Entrance Gate employees recorded three inches of snow for the month and the naturalist staff recorded 3.3 inches at the weather equipment near the Fudge Shop.
Wind gusts over 60 mph were recorded six times. The highest three-second gust during the month was 83.4 mph recorded March 6.
For more information on Grandfather Mountain's weather data or to access current conditions please visit www.grandfather.com.