Very Little March Snowfall—Again

By Russell Russ

March brought a change in the weather. It was cool and raw the first week of the month with several days of freezing rain, something we had not seen much of this winter. Temperatures then increased for the remainder of the month, with several days reaching the 60s and even 70s. This warmup provided our first taste of spring weather. Precipitation totals were near normal for the month. What was lacking was snowfall. After a snowy December through February period, March came in as a real dud. Season-wise, we are still respectable for a snowfall total, but March’s poor effort will likely keep Norfolk a bit below average for winter season snowfall. Most area lakes and ponds lost their ice by March 27-28. Late March ice-out is normal for Norfolk. The ice went out by mid-March last year and in early March two years ago.
March’s low temperature of 3 degrees was observed on March 2 and the high of 73 was observed on March 31. With a monthly mean temperature of 35.3 degrees, it was 4.6 degrees warmer than normal, but not high ranking for warmth. There were three days that set daily high temperature records: 71 degrees on March 10 (it was 69 in 2016), 68 degrees on March 11 (it was 66 in 1977) and 73 on March 31 (it was 66 in 2015). Norfolk’s warmest March was in 2012 with 41.8 degrees; the coldest was in 1960 with 21.2 degrees.

The total recorded monthly precipitation was 4.62 inches, 0.28 inch above normal. Norfolk’s wettest March was in 1953 with 10.37 inches and the driest was in 1981 with a total of just 0.64 inch. Through the first quarter of 2026, total precipitation was 9.78 inches, 2.21 inches below normal.

March’s snowfall total of 2.0 inches ranks as Norfolk’s eighth least snowy March. March 2025 with 0.8 inch ranks third for least snow, and March 2024 with 1.2 inches is tied with 1973 as the sixth least snowy. The least snowy March was in 2021 with just 0.1 inch. What is going on with March’s snowfall in recent years? March used to produce some impressive Nor’easter snowstorms. Its long-term average snowfall total is 17.5 inches. Is this a trend or are we just in a short-term March snowfall downturn? Good question.
The March with the most snowfall—also the snowiest month of any month on record for Norfolk—was in 1956 with 73.6 inches. March 2023 produced 31.3 inches, and March 2018 produced 43.5 inches. Maybe we are due for a snowy March next year.

The 2025-26 winter snowfall total through March was 73.8 inches, 8.8 inches below normal. March brought Norfolk’s total below normal for the season, but we are in better shape than in recent years. Over the last 10 years, six winters have ranked in the top 15 for least snowy. Norfolk’s snowiest winter was 1955-56 with 177.4 inches, and the least snowy winter was 2015-16 with 35.5 inches.

A look ahead through the first three weeks of April shows that April once again is a consistent weather month for Norfolk. It usually starts off on the cooler side with a little snow and snow showers; it then warms up by the middle of the month and everything greens up. But April can still surprise us with several cooler days and snow showers late into the month. It is a transition month. Spring is on its way in, but winter still tries to insert itself when it can. Thanks to a warm spell April 13-17, April was running nearly five degrees warmer than normal. Precipitation and snowfall were about normal. Grass is greening, flowers are blooming and the trees are leafing out. As usual, the forest fire danger level increased and will be high until the trees fully leaf out. Springtime also means black flies and ticks. Be bug aware. It could be a good year for bugs.

Weather observations are recorded by the Great Mountain Forest at Norfolk’s National Weather Service Cooperative Weather Observer Station, Norfolk 2SW.