The mean temperature last month was 13.4°C, less than half a degree lower than the norm for March in the last 30 years, the Meteorological Office said.
It said that for the best part of the month the mean air temperature hovered below the mean March average. The warmest March since 1923 was that of 2001 with 16.9 °C and the coolest was 1953’s with a mean of 11.4 °C.
March days, with an average high of 16.3°C, were 1°C colder than the March mean for the last 30 years. The warmest day was yesterday - the last day of the month with a temperature of 22.8°C. The warmest March day on record was in 2001 when a high of 33.5 °C was reached on the 25th.
March nights, with a mean of 10.4°C, were also slightly colder than average. The lowest temperature reached was 6.5°C - shortly before dawn of the 22nd and of the 23rd. However, the 3rd and 5th of March 1949 with a low of 2.2 °C are the coldest March nights since 1922.
The Met Office said that last month had an average of seven hours and 40 minutes of bright sunshine a day, which was within the average since 1927. The dullest March since sunshine records began in 1927 was in 2004 with just 4 hours and 55 minutes. The brightest was that of 1947 with 8 hours and 55 minutes of insolation. The brightest day last month was the 25th with 10 hours and 48 minutes of sunshine whilst an overcast sky completely hid the sun on the 4th and 29th.
A total of 39.8 mm of rain fell last month, 2.1 mm less than the last 30-year average for the month. The wettest March on record was that of 1925 when a total of 178 mm of rain was recorded, the driest was of 1977 when a few drops of rain produced just 0.4 mm. March had five days with thunderstorms, one day with hail and two days with fog.
The wind last month was slightly more than the March average since 1947 with a mean speed of 10.2 knots (18.9 kilometres per hour) from the northwest by west. The highest gust, recorded on the 46 knots (85 kilometres per hour) from a south by west direction. This had resulted in damages, including to the historic Xarolla windmill.