Global Analysis - March 1998

Note: The data presented in this report are preliminary. Ranks and anomalies may change as more complete data are received and processed. Effective September 2012, the GHCN-M version 3.2.0 dataset of monthly mean temperature replaced the GHCN-M version 3.1.0 monthly mean temperature dataset. Beginning with the August 2012 Global monthly State of the Climate Report, released on September 17, 2012, GHCN-M version 3.2.0 is used for NCDC climate monitoring activities, including calculation of global land surface temperature anomalies and trends. For more information about this newest version, please see the GHCN-M version 3.2.0 Technical Report.

*The GHCN-M version 3.1.0 Technical Report was revised on September 5, 2012 to accurately reflect the changes incorporated in that version. Previously that report incorrectly included discussion of changes to the Pairwise Homogeneity Algorithm (PHA). Changes to the PHA are included in version 3.2.0 and described in the version 3.2.0 Technical Report. Please see the Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about this update.

US Climate Perspective: January - March Precipitation Anomalies

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Jan-Mar Precip Anomalies for US
Based on preliminary data, January-March 1998 ranked as the wettest such year-to-date in the 104-year national record, with an area-averaged precipitation of 8.95 inches. This is a departure of 2.43 inches from the 1961-1990 normal of 6.52 inches. The second wettest Jan-Mar: 1979 with 8.41 inches.

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Blue Bar US Climate Perspective: March Precipitation Anomalies

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March Precipitation Anomalies for US
March 1998 ranked as the 15th wettest March in the 104-year national record, with an area-averaged precipitation of 2.94 inches, based on preliminary data. This is a departure of 0.47 inches from the 1961-1990 normal of 2.47 inches. The wettest March on record occured in 1973 with 3.89 inches. The second wettest March was in 1983 with 3.54 inches.

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Blue Bar US Climate Perspective: January-March Temperature Anomalies

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Jan-Mar Temperature Anomalies for US
Based on preliminary data, January through March of 1998 ranked as the sixth warmest such year-to-date in the 104-year national record, with an area-averaged temperature of 39.00 degrees F. This is a departure of 3.46 degrees F from the long-term mean.
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Blue Bar US Climate Perspective: March Temperature Anomalies

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March Temperature Anomalies for US
Based on preliminary data, March 1998 ranked as the 48th coolest March in the 104-year national record, with the area-averaged temperature of 42.0 degrees F. This is a departure of -0.39 degrees F from the 1961-1990 normal of 42.39 degrees F. The warmest March on record was in 1910 with an area-averaged temperature of 50.2 degrees F. The second warmest were March, 1921 and March, 1946 with 47.6 degrees F.
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Blue Bar Global Climate Perspective: Jan-Mar Temperature Anomalies

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Jan-Mar Temperature Anomalies for the Globe
Based on land-surface temperature observations going back to 1880, the global area-averaged mean temperature for January-March 1998 is the warmest on record. This period for 1998 is indeed slightly warmer than the previous record high in 1990. But the global area-averaged January-March 1998 temperature is definitely much warmer than that of earlier decades. Early indications suggest that when ocean data are included, the January-March 1998 period was also the warmest for both land and ocean. See below.

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Blue Bar Global Climate Perspective: March Temperature Anomalies

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March Temperature Anomalies for the Globe
The global mean temperature anomaly for March 1998 is the second warmest on record at 0.79 degrees C above the 1961-1990 mean. As data are being received, scientists at The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Climatic Data Center are automatically updating The Global Historical Climatology Network data base to maintain a global climate perspective in near real-time.

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Blue Bar Jan-Mar (1982-1998) Land and Sea Surface Temperature Anomalies

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Jan-Mar Land and Seas Surface Temp Anomalies for the Globe

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Blue Bar March (1982-1998) Land and Sea Surface Temperature Anomalies

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March Land and Seas Surface Temp Anomalies for the Globe

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These results, partially driven by the powerful El Nino conditions, follow the record warmth of 1997 and near-record conditions (0.77 degrees C above normal) for January 1998 and record-breaking 1.38 degrees C above normal for February.

Citing This Report

NOAA National Climatic Data Center, State of the Climate: Global Analysis for March 1998, published online April 1998, retrieved on May 23, 2013 from http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/1998/3.