Rather Dry and Sunny

Temperatures

The average maximum temperature during March 2020 in Shoreham was 10.9 Celsius (52F), and that was close to normal for the time of year.  The average minimum temperature was 4.8 Celsius (41F), and that was also very close to the March normal. The mean temperature for the month was only 0.1 Celsius (<0.2F) higher than that of February.    

The highest temperature recorded during the month was 13.7 Celsius (57F) on the 27th, and although no other days had a maximum above 13 Celsius (55F), there were 6 days with highs above 12 Celsius (54F), and a further 11 days when 11 Celsius (52F) was exceeded.  No cold days occurred during March, but on 8 occasions the maximum temperature was below 10 Celsius (50F). However, only 3 of these highs were below 9 Celsius (48F), and just 1 maximum was under 8 Celsius (46F). On the 5th, the temperature peaked at just 7.1 Celsius (45F).

Several mild nights occurred during the second and third weeks of March, with 7 nights, all between the 8th and 19th, having minimum temperatures above 7 Celsius (45F). On 2 of these milder nights the temperature stayed above 9 Celsius (48F). The mildest night was the 11th with a low of 9.9 Celsius (50F). There were many nights with minima close to 5 Celsius (41F), but a few cooler nights occurred, more especially during the first and last weeks of March. On 6 occasions the temperature fell below 3 Celsius (37F), and on 3 of these colder nights the minima were below 1 Celsius (34F). The coldest night was the 3rd when a minimum of minus 0.5 Celsius (31F) was recorded.

The sea temperature was between 8 and 9 Celsius (46-48F) throughout the month.

Frost

Only 1 air frost occurred during March, and that was on the 3rd. However, there were 7 grass frosts. A total of 4 grass frosts occurred on the first 9 nights of March, with a further 2 during the last week of the month. On both the 4th and 7th the grass temperature fell to minus 5 Celsius (23 F), but on the 3rd a minimum of minus 6.1 (21F) was measured.   

Rain

Rainfall in March amounted to 42.4 millimetres (1.7 ins.). This was about 30% below average for the month. There were 15 days of measurable rain, and that was 4 days below average.  The changeable weather of February spilled over into early March, and during the first half of the month there were only 2 completely dry days, the 2nd and 6th. The heaviest rain generally occurred towards the beginning of the month, with a decrease in daily totals as mid month approached. Rainfall on the 4th was 6 millimetres (0.2 ins.) with 14.6 millimetres (0.6 ins.) falling on the 5th. Another 5.2 millimetres (0.2 ins.) fell on the 9th, but the 4.4 millimetres (0.15 ins.) that were recorded on the 13th, was followed by only 1 more day of rainfall exceeding 1 millimetre. In fact, the weather became unusually sunny. Although there was patchy thin high cloud, each day between the 21st and 27th had unbroken sunshine. Rainfall for the second half of March was only 3.2 millimetres (0.1 ins.) with most of the rain falling on the 29th when showers gave a total of 2.0 millimetres (0.08 ins.).

Hail

Soft hail, or graupel, was observed in the showers that fell during the afternoon of the 29th.

Thunder

No thunder was heard in Shoreham in March.

Snow

There was a little sleet observed in Shoreham during the afternoon showers on the 29th. 

Wind

During the first half of March, winds were mainly blowing from between southwest and northwest and they were often quite strong. After mid month, northeasterly winds were dominant, and on several days, these were also fairly brisk. At Shoreham Airport, a gust of 45 knots (51 mph) during the last hour of February, was followed by several gusts of 34 knots (39 mph) from the southwest during the morning of the 1st. The 8th was the next breezy day with a southwesterly gust of 37 knots (42 mph) early in the morning. The southwesterly winds strengthened again on the evening of the 9th with gusty fresh or strong winds continuing through the 10th with several gusts between 30 and 34 knots (34-39 mph). After a brief lull, a gust of 33 knots (38 mph) occurred on the evening of the 11th, followed by 39 knots (45 mph) on the morning of the 12th. The breeze became much lighter for a while before the arrival of the northeasterlies. Gusts stayed below 30 knots (34 mph) until the 28th, but then frequent strong gusts occurred, with 39 knots (45 mph) in the late afternoon, with 40 knots (46 mph) recorded late morning. The wind slowly died out with the last significant gusts occurring in the evening of the 29th.   

Fog

No fog was observed in this part of Shoreham during March.

Statistics for March 2020

Reporting Station	Highest Temp	Lowest Temp	Rain Total (mm)	Wettest	Rain days
Shoreham Airport	13.2	-2.5	53	20	14
Thorney Island	13.5	0.3	50	19	13
Gatwick A/P	14.3	-2.9	57	21	18
Herstmonceux	13.2	-0.5	69	37	17
Bournemouth (Hurn)	14.9	-2.9	46	18	14
Middle Wallop	14.6	-2.1	57	14	15
Dieppe	14.6	0.1	59	14	16