SUNDAY 4th MARCH

THE MONTH OF MARCH---WINTER OR SPRING?


For the purposes of keeping weather statistics, March is considered a spring month. Others would argue spring begins at the vernal equinox(March 21st), when day & night are approximately equal in length.
In terms of actual weather, virtually every March is a mixture of winter-like & spring-like conditions,Over the past 35 years of records in my possession for Pitlochry, the highest temperature ever reached in March, was 17.6 recorded in 2003, equivalent to an average day in June!  In 1996, however, one day struggled to just 1 degree, while 1 night in 1986 fell to -11.2, figures that would be note-worthy during a January or February.
Such variability in March must be problematic for plant growth, as 6 degrees marks the point at which plants, including grass, start to grow.
Pitlochry's average daytime temperature in March over 35 years has worked out at 8.4, but some years have failed to average out at a figure high enough to promote much plant growth. 1996 only made 6.1 & 2006 was nearly as bad at 6.2. Moreover, no less than 10 years have had night- time March figures averaging out below freezing.
Occasionally, a few of the mildest January & February months can be milder than the coldest March months Conversely.it is not unknown for the odd march month to be warmer than one or to of the coldest Aprils.
The month of March often has days with some of the lowest humidities & best visibilities in the year.However, sea temperatures are usually close to their coldest, so don't expect winds off the North Sea to be other than chilly in March. It is often possible for snow flakes to reach the ground with temperatures several degrees above freezing, particularly in showers.