Snowless And 70

Such is the variation in weather during the month of March on eastern Long Island

Apr. 5, 2012

“We have passed through the entire month of March without seeing a single flake of snow,” Richard G. Hendrickson, the United States Cooperative weather observer in Bridgehampton, wrote in his monthly report for March.

It’s not the first time, but it is uncommon. According to Mr. Hendrickson, there was no snow in the month of March in 2008 and 1983, and only a trace of it in the Marches of 1946, ’54, ’66, ’71, ’72, ’79, ’86, ’95, and 2002.

“Such is the variation in weather during the month of March on eastern Long Island,” Mr. Hendrickson wrote.

The warmest days last month were the 21st and 22nd, when it was 70 degrees. On the coldest days, March 6 and 11, it was 23 degrees. Nighttime temperatures dropped to freezing or below on nine nights.

Rain for March was scarce, with just 1.28 inches recorded, close to 2 inches less than the long-term average. “We need much more rain to keep our sandy loam Long Island soil moist,” he wrote. “We hope spring rains will give us ample soil moisture to help plants through the summer.”

Though there was little rain, there was considerable fog on five days last month.

Mr. Hendrickson recorded westerly winds on 17 days last month, as well as 19 clear days, 3 partly cloudy, and 9 cloudy.

April’s warmer weather should bring ample rain, some fog, and more southerly breezes, Mr. Hendrickson guessed, predicting a high of 80 degrees this month.

“As the winters come and go, I feel that many of us think and realize that we are in a warming climate trend,” Mr. Hendrickson said. “Our years are warmer and we are going to have warmer years in the future. They are part of the slow but inevitable change that is taking place all over in our present day world. So, if we have excellent ice-skating next winter, you may ask, where is that warming trend that weatherman was writing about?”

It will take years for the weather to change completely, said the observer, who has been taking his measurements at his Bridgehampton weather station since he was a teenager, “but change it will. Our ocean is warmer and rising. Wait and see. Waterfront homes? Many of us will have to just wait and watch the natural slow changing weather.”