March 2012 will go down in history as the warmest March of record in Indianapolis, and nearly a whopping 15 degrees above normal.

The last time the record average temperature for a month was tied occurred when March 1946 equaled the record warm March 1910.

The last time a record monthly average temperature was set happened at the close of August 1936 during the Heat Wave of 1936.

Even more impressive, the average temperature for March 2012 shattered the previous record from March 1910 by nearly 5 degrees.

More on the Record-Breaking Month of March

Spring Season Freeze Information

On the Plains, rain lingers in parts of the Dakotas but has mostly ended across the remainder of the nation’s mid-section. Pastures and winter grains on the northern and southern High Plains are benefiting from recent soil moisture improvements, but both regions would welcome additional rain.

Across the Corn Belt, a band of showers and thunderstorms stretches across western portions of the region from North Dakota to Missouri. The rain is providing highly beneficial moisture in preparation for summer crop planting. Across the remainder of the Midwest, a period of cool weather is coming to an end.

In the South, cool weather lingers in the Atlantic Coast States. Elsewhere, dry weather and warmer conditions are promoting fieldwork and crop development.

In the West, very cool weather accompanies the latest round of stormy weather into California. Cool, rainy weather is slowing California’s fieldwork and crop development, but high-elevation snow continues to improve summer water-supply prospects. Elsewhere in the West, cool, mostly dry weather prevails.

On the Plains, winter wheat development and spring fieldwork activities remain well ahead of the normal pace. However, developing showers are curtailing fieldwork in some areas. Despite some overnight rainfall on the southern High Plains, drought remains a significant concern.

Across the Corn Belt, freeze warnings are in effect again Monday morning. A high-pressure system currently centered over Illinois and Indiana has resulted in clear, cool, near calm conditions across much of the Midwest. Producers continue to monitor fruit crops for signs of freeze injury, while there is less concern for winter wheat due to the stage of development and for corn due to minimal Midwestern emergence.

In the South, cool, dry weather prevails. Early Monday, widespread, generally light freezes in Kentucky and Tennessee may have threatened some fruit crops, headed winter wheat, and emerged corn. Most of the remainder of the South appears to have escaped with minimal impacts from the cool spell.

In the West, scattered showers cover northern California and the Intermountain region. Some of the heaviest rain and snow showers are occurring in northern California, where spring precipitation is slowing fieldwork but has improved water-supply prospects.

On the Plains, cold air is settled across Montana and the Dakotas, where Monday morning’s temperatures locally fell below 20°. Meanwhile on the central and southern Plains, mild, dry weather favors planting preparations and early-season seeding operations.

Across the Corn Belt, cool air is surging across the upper Midwest, where Monday morning’s temperatures dipped below 32°. Mild weather prevails across the remainder of the region, while isolated showers are confined to parts of Indiana and Ohio.

In the South, warm, dry weather is promoting fieldwork and crop growth. However, drought is adversely affecting some pastures, winter grains, and emerging summer crops across the lower Southeast. Other drought-related impacts include heavy irrigation demands and an increased risk of wildfires.

In the West, a few showers are returning to the northern Pacific Coast. Elsewhere, warm, dry weather is promoting fieldwork and crop development, following an extended period of cool conditions.

On the Plains, warm, windy conditions prevail in conjunction with a developing storm system centered over western Kansas. Isolated rain showers dot the northern Plains, while cooler air is beginning to overspread the High Plains.

Across the Corn Belt, lingering cool conditions over the lower Great Lakes region contrast with record-setting warmth across southern and western portions of the region. Scattered frost was noted Monday morning from Michigan into New York, while Monday’s highs could again approach 90° in the southwestern Corn Belt.

In the South, precipitation is mostly confined to North Carolina and the western Gulf Coast region. Elsewhere, warm, dry weather continues to promote a torrid pace of crop development, except in areas—such as the lower Southeast—where soil moisture shortages are hampering growth.

In the West, snow is falling in parts of Wyoming and neighboring areas. Elsewhere, generally cool, dry weather prevails in advance of an approaching Pacific storm.

On the Plains, very warm weather favors a rapid pace of winter wheat development. However, portions of the High Plains’ winter wheat belt will soon need additional moisture to prevent drought stress.

Across the Corn Belt, frost and freeze advisories were in effect Friday morning across portions of the Great Lakes region, where producers continue to monitor early-blooming fruit crops for signs of injury in the wake of the March 26-27 and current cool snaps. Elsewhere in the Midwest, rain showers accompany mild weather.

In the South, scattered showers and thunderstorms are spreading eastward across the central Gulf Coast States. Meanwhile, warm, dry weather is promoting fieldwork and crop development in the lower Southeast, although rain is needed for pastures, winter grains, and emerging summer crops.

In the West, stormy weather prevails across northern California and the Pacific Northwest, where chilly weather persists. California’s spring and summer runoff prospects have improved slightly during March, but high-elevation Sierra Nevada snow packs are still only about half of normal for this time of year.

On the Plains, breezy weather accompanies record-setting warmth. Thursday’s high temperatures will approach 90° on the southern High Plains, where lingering drought impacts continue to adversely affect rangeland, pastures, and winter wheat. On March 25, nearly one-third (30%) of the Texas winter wheat crop was rated in very poor to poor condition.

Across the Corn Belt, cool weather has returned to the Great Lakes region, where frost and freeze advisories were in effect Thursday morning. Freezes were mostly confined to Wisconsin and Michigan, where late-March freezes are common. However, the cool weather follows an extended period of record-setting warmth. Elsewhere, showers and thunderstorms are affecting portions of the middle Mississippi and lower Missouri Valleys.

In the South, scattered showers are confined to the western Gulf Coast region. Elsewhere, very warm, dry weather continues to promote a rapid pace of fieldwork and crop development, although drought remains a concern with respect to pastures, winter grains, and emerging summer crops across the lower Southeast.

In the West, cool weather is limited to the Pacific Northwest, the northern Rockies, and areas along the California coast. Precipitation is falling across the Pacific Northwest, but dry weather prevails elsewhere.

Unseasonably warm weather will continue in the across central Indiana through Friday. Temperatures during this mild spell will average more than 20 degrees above normal and be typical of late May and early June or similar to March weather in Tampa, Florida.

Cooler weather will arrive for the weekend, but temperatures will remain above the seasonal normal through Tuesday.

More on the March Warmth

The winter season of 2011 and 2012 (defined as December, January and February) was a mild one for northern through eastern Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania.

The average temperature in Cleveland for the winter season was 35.0 degrees. That makes this season the 7th warmest on record.

The Full Winter 2011-2012 Summary