March

It took nearly the entire month, but severe weather finally made a rather abrupt return to Oklahoma during the last week of March. Two separate storm systems brought severe winds, large hail and tornadoes after a hiatus filled mostly with winter weather headlines. On March 25, a combination of thunderstorm winds and an intermittent tornado that reached EF-2 in strength traveled through southwest Oklahoma City and Moore before dissipating in north Norman.  The twister caused significant damage to Southgate Elementary in central Moore and the surrounding neighborhood.

The wet conditions of February failed to translate into March, but the cooler than normal weather continued virtually uninterrupted. According to data from the Oklahoma Mesonet, the month's statewide average temperature was 47.7 degrees, 2.5 degrees below normal and the 45th coolest March since records began in 1895. The two months together accomplished a relatively rare feat of late, becoming first consecutive months to finish below normal in Oklahoma since January and February 2011.

Warm and dry weather grabbed the headlines as the record-setting extremes of February gave way to a downright dull March. Data from the Oklahoma Mesonet ranked the month as the eighth driest and 31st warmest March since records began in 1895. Severe weather was scarce, although a few reports of large hail and high winds accompanied the few thunderstorms that did occur. Elevated fire risk was common during the month, a result of the dry and windy conditions.