Raleigh, North Carolina – Residents across central North Carolina are coming out of one of the warmest and driest Marches ever recorded, with temperatures running up to 7 degrees above normal and rainfall sharply below average.
According to the National Weather Service in Raleigh, Raleigh recorded an average temperature of 59.2°F, ranking as a tie for the 3rd warmest March on record. Greensboro followed closely at 57.2°F, its 4th warmest, while Fayetteville reached 59.9°F, marking its 5th warmest March.
Rainfall totals told a different story. Raleigh picked up just 1.61 inches of rain, which is 2.49 inches below normal and ranks as the 8th driest March on record. Fayetteville saw only 1.01 inches, tying for its 4th driest, while Greensboro logged 1.86 inches, also significantly below average.
High temperatures surged well into the upper 80s to near 90 degrees during the month, including a 90°F reading in Fayetteville. Meanwhile, snowfall was nearly nonexistent across the region.
The combination of warmth and dryness has increased early-season fire risk and could stress vegetation heading into April.
Conditions may shift in the coming weeks, but additional dry patterns could prompt further concerns if rainfall deficits continue into mid-spring.
