Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Melbourne, FL
Issued by NWS Melbourne, FL
224 NOUS42 KMLB 041926 PNSMLB Public Information Statement National Weather Service Melbourne FL 326 PM EDT Thu Apr 4 2024 ...March 2024 Was Warmer Than Normal and Mostly Drier Than Normal Across East Central Florida... Only a handful of cold fronts moved through central Florida into March, and a majority of these boundaries were rather weak, with any periods of cooler weather being limited and short-lived. This led to average temperatures for the month being a few degrees warmer than normal, and ranking March 2024 within the top 15 warmest on record at most sites. These fronts and an area of low pressure that crossed the state during the latter half of the month did bring some rainfall to the area. However, overall amounts were fairly meager, especially south of Lake and Volusia counties where monthly totals ended up around 1 to 3 inches below normal for March. ...Temperatures... Warmer than normal conditions started off the month, with highs during the first several days ranging from the mid 70s to low 80s across the region, and lows remaining quite mild in the 60s. A weak front briefly crossed the area on the 7th, but lifted back north as a warm front on the 8th continuing above normal temperatures. In fact, the warmest temperatures for the month occurred one day later on the 9th, with highs climbing to the upper 80s to around 90 degrees, and lows that morning in the upper 60s to low 70s. For many sites across the area, these values either tied or broke both their high and warm low records for the date. In fact, the low of 72 degrees at both Leesburg and Sanford on the 9th also tied for the warmest minimum temperature on record for March at both sites. A cold front then moved through on the 10th, and finally brought some cooler temperatures into central Florida, with lows falling into the 50s for a couple days following, and highs on the 11th in the upper 60s to mid 70s. However, temperatures only quickly warmed up from there, with highs back in the 80s and lows in the 60s by mid- month. A few daily high and warm minimum temperature records were set across the area from the 16th through the 18th, before a stronger cold front pushed through late on the 18th. This front ushered in the coolest air during the month, with highs dropping to the upper 60s to low 70s on the 19th and lows falling into the 40s areawide on the morning of the 20th. This drop in temperatures was once again short-lived though, with near to above normal daily average temperatures occurring through the remainder of the month, as highs typically lingered in the 70s and 80s and lows in the 50s and 60s. With only a couple brief cool downs, average temperatures for the month ended up warmer than normal by 3 to 4 degrees. While, March 2024 only broke into the top ten warmest rankings at Sanford (tied as 7th warmest March on record), it was close at other sites, with it being the 11th warmest on record at Leesburg, Orlando, and Vero Beach, and 13th warmest on record at Daytona Beach and Melbourne. Daily Record Temperatures for the Month: Daytona Beach: - March 9th: Record high of 87 degrees. Previous record was 85 degrees last set in 2022. Also, set record warm low of 72 degrees. Previous record was 66 degrees last set in 2022. Leesburg: - March 9th: Record high of 88 degrees. Previous record was 87 degrees last set in 1991. Also, set record warm low of 72 degrees. Previous record was 67 degrees last set in 2022. This also tied for the warmest minimum temperature on record for March at this site, last set on March 26th, 2023. - March 17th: Tied record warm low of 68 degrees last set in 2014. Sanford: - March 9th: Tied record high of 89 degrees last set in 1974. Also, set record warm low of 72 degrees. Previous record was 67 degrees last set in 2022. This also tied for the warmest minimum temperature on record for March at this site, last set on March 21st, 2003. - March 16th: Tied record warm low of 68 degrees last set in 2001. Orlando: - March 9th: Record high of 90 degrees. Previous record was 89 degrees last set in 1905. Also, set record warm low of 72 degrees. Previous record was 69 degrees last set in 2022. - March 18th: Record warm low of 69 degrees. Previous record was 68 degrees last set in 1943. Melbourne: - March 9th: Record warm low of 72 degrees. Previous record was 70 degrees last set in 2023. Vero Beach: - March 9th: Tied record high of 90 degrees last set in 2003. Also, tied record warm low of 70 degrees last set in 2022. - March 18th: Tied record high of 89 degrees last set in 2021. Fort Pierce: - No daily temperature records set or tied. Average temperatures for March 2024 at the primary climate sites across east central Florida are as follows (rankings provided if in the top 10): - Daytona Beach had a monthly average temperature of 68.8 degrees Fahrenheit, which was 3.6 degrees above normal. - Leesburg had a monthly average temperature of 69.7 degrees Fahrenheit, which was 3.1 degrees above normal. - Sanford had a monthly average temperature of 70.6 degrees Fahrenheit, which was 3.5 degrees above normal. This ties March 2016 as the 7th warmest March on record at this site, with records extending back to 1948. - Orlando had a monthly average temperature of 71.7 degrees Fahrenheit, which was 4.4 degrees above normal. - Melbourne had a monthly average temperature of 70.5 degrees Fahrenheit, which was 3.1 degrees above normal. - Vero Beach had a monthly average temperature of 71.2 degrees Fahrenheit, which was 3.2 degrees above normal. - Fort Pierce had a monthly average temperature of 70.4 degrees Fahrenheit, which was 3.0 degrees above normal. ...Rainfall... Increasing moisture and a passing disturbance aloft led to scattered to numerous showers and storms developing across the region on the 3rd of March, with a few stronger storms occurring. Greatest rainfall was across the interior and across Lake and Volusia counties, with totals between 0.50 to 2.00 inches. Additional showers and storms crossed central Florida ahead of a passing cold front on the 6th, but totals were lower, typically around a quarter of an inch or less. Numerous to widespread showers and isolated storms then preceded another cold front on the 10th, with greatest rainfall amounts again occurring across Lake and Volusia counties, up to around 1 to 2 inches, and significantly lower totals farther south. A much drier period then followed for several days through mid-month, with little to no rainfall from the 11th through the 17th. Another cold front generated isolated to scattered showers and storms on the 18th, but more widespread rainfall crossed the area on the 22nd as an area of low pressure crossed central Florida and exited off the east central Florida coast early on the 23rd. Greatest totals from this system were across the interior from Osceola County northward through Lake County, with amounts between 0.50 to 1.50 inches. For much of the rest of March, drier conditions largely prevailed outside of some developing lighter rainfall from scattered showers and isolated storms ahead of a passing cold front on the 28th. Rainfall totals for March 2024 ranged from around 3 to 5 inches across northern Lake and Volusia counties, which was near to slightly above normal for the month. However, farther south amounts were lower, from around 1 to 2 inches across the interior, and as low as around a half an inch to an inch along the coast from southern Brevard County southward through northern Martin County. These precipitation values were lower than normal, with deficits as high as 2 to 3 inches below normal where rainfall was less than an inch toward the coast. Daily Record Rainfall for the Month: Daytona Beach: - No daily record rainfalls set or tied. Leesburg: - No daily record rainfalls set or tied. Sanford: - No daily record rainfalls set or tied. Orlando: - No daily record rainfalls set or tied. Melbourne: - No daily record rainfalls set or tied. Vero Beach: - No daily record rainfalls set or tied. Fort Pierce: - No daily record rainfalls set or tied. March 2024 rainfall totals for the primary climate sites across east central Florida are as follows (ranking provided if in the top 10): - Daytona Beach received 3.39 inches of rain for the month, which was 0.24 inches below normal. - Leesburg received 3.77 inches of rain for the month, which was 0.55 inches above normal. - Sanford received 1.36 inches of rain for the month, which was 1.49 inches below normal. - Orlando received 1.39 inches of rain for the month, which was 1.64 inches below normal. - Melbourne received 0.63 inches of rain for the month, which was 2.06 inches below normal. - Vero Beach received 0.59 inches of rain for the month, which was 2.85 inches below normal. - Fort Pierce received 0.68 inches of rain for the month, which was 2.20 inches below normal. Below is a list of observed precipitation totals and rainfall statistics for select sites across east central Florida for March 2024: Station March 2024 Normal Departure Percent of Rainfall Rainfall From Normal Normal Daytona Beach 3.39" 3.63" -0.24" 93% (DAB) Orlando 1.39" 3.03" -1.64" 46% (MCO) Melbourne 0.63" 2.69" -2.06" 23% (MLB) Vero Beach 0.59" 3.44" -2.85" 17% (VRB) Clermont* 1.66" 3.20" -1.54" 52% (CLRF1) Leesburg 3.77" 3.22" +0.55" 117% (LEE) DeLand* 3.68" 3.54" +0.14" 104% (DELF1) Sanford 1.36" 2.85" -1.49" 48% (SFB) Titusville* 2.64" 3.37" -0.73" 78% (TITF1) Fort Pierce 0.68" 2.88" -2.20" 24% (FPR) Stuart* 0.71" 3.76" -3.05" 19% (STRF1) *Rainfall totals for the month end around 7 AM on the 31st. For more local climate information, please visit our web page at http://weather.gov/mlb and click on the "Climate" icon toward the bottom of the page. $$ Weitlich