March 2012 was notable for the almost continuous high-pressure systems that blocked rain-bearing fronts from making progress into the country This resulted in a very low rainfall totalling 23.2mm, which is only 40% of the long-term average. Almost half the total fell on the fourth with 11.1mm, being the wettest day of the month. It was the fourth driest March I have recorded (March 2011 set the record of 12.7mm) with 26 dry days. It has been the second driest February and March period with a total of 52.5mm, which is 68mm below the long-term average. The record was set in 1993 when I recorded only 33.9mm for this period.
The mean temperature was 1.6C above the long-term average but interestingly this was almost entirely due to the high maximum temperatures. The mean was 13.6c and was the highest I have recorded for March. Another record for my station was set on the 28th when the peak temperature was 21.0C. beating the previous high set in march 1990.
There were seven days with fog that was dense well into the morning and sometimes very reluctant to clear. The solar energy was 10% up on 2011 as was the total for evapotranspiration, thus exacerbating the drought conditions.
The diurnal range has shown a general rising trend for both February and March over the last 28 years with the difference between the day maximum and minimum increasing by 1.5C and 2.2c respectively.