Now that March is almost over, here are the preliminary maps from the High Plains Regional Climate Center showing temperature and precipitation departures from normal. They show that March for most of the Southeast was warmer and drier than usual. The warmth allowed quick germination and growth of newly planted corn and brought out many flowering plants, but the dryness contributed to the expansion of drought in southern Alabama and the development of a new area of drought in southern Florida. The next three months have an increased chance of above normal precipitation due to the El Nino, so I am hopeful that those dry conditions will go away soon.
