Provided by the State Climate Office of Ohio, a collaboration of the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center, Geography Department, and OSU Extension with support from Energent Solutions.

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Temperature

March brought consistently mild conditions across the state, with average temperatures holding at or above 40°F. A clear north– south temperature gradient emerged: southern regions were the warmest, averaging 50–55°F, while temperatures gradually decreased to 40–45°F in the northern areas (Fig. 1a). Overall, these values were 3–7°F above the historical norm for this time of year (Fig. 1b).

At the county level, March ranked as the 7th warmest in the 132- year record. Nearly every county experienced much above-average temperatures, with the exception of Erie County. The statewide mean temperature for the month reached 38.5°F (Fig. 2). Although there were still some cold spells and frost for this month, these colder temperatures were muted by prolonged periods of warmer temperatures.

Precipitation

Compared to the rest of the year, Ohio experienced an upward trend of precipitation in March. Statewide totals ranged from about 2–3 inches to as much as 8–10 inches. The highest rainfall occurred in central Ohio, while northwest and eastern regions saw comparatively lower amounts (Fig. 3a). Despite March only being the beginning of spring, precipitation totals were generally above normal. Only a few localized areas experienced deficits of around 1 inch, while most of the state was near or above average. Central Ohio, which received the most rainfall, recorded anomalies of 4–5 inches above normal, highlighting an especially wet March (Fig. 3b).

County rankings continue to show this pattern with no counties recorded below-average levels; instead, the highest precipitation was concentrated from the southwest to the northeast and central regions (Fig. 4). The remaining areas, primarily in the south and far north, maintained near-average totals. Overall, March was the 13th wettest in 132 years with an average of 3.37 inches of precipitation.

Soil & Energy

Despite above-normal precipitation in March, several areas across Ohio remain in the 2nd percentile for soil moisture. At the 0–40 cm depth, northwest Ohio and portions of southern Ohio continue to exhibit very dry conditions, while central Ohio falls within the 70th–90th percentile, indicating much wetter soils (Fig. 5a). A similar pattern is evident at the 0–200 cm depth, though both the drier and wetter regions expand somewhat in coverage (Fig. 5b).

Product Note: Both NASA SPoRT LIS soil moisture products contain small pockets of inaccurate data indicating extremely wet or dry conditions. These small-scale errors can emerge in remote sensing products covering large areas or grid-spacings. For more information, please contact Geddy Davis (davis.5694@osu.edu). ​​

Notable Event

March brought a series of impactful storm systems across Ohio, including thunderstorms, large hail, and multiple tornadoes. The first notable outbreak occurred on March 11, producing three EF0 tornadoes in Shelby and Auglaize Counties, with the longest path extending 3.02 miles. On March 22, a narrow but intense band of storms moved through western and central Ohio, bringing frequent lightning and severe hail (Fig. 7). Areas impacted by these storms saw quarter to golf ball sized hail, such as this example in Fig. 8. 

The most significant event of the month took place on March 26, originating in northern Illinois and tracking east through Indiana into Ohio. A total of 109 storm reports were submitted to the SPC that day, including five tornadoes (Fig. 9). Of these, three occurred in Ohio: two EF1 tornadoes in Morrow and Hardin Counties, and one EF0 in Knox County. The strongest of these tracked 1.53 miles in Morrow County, with estimated peak winds of 95 mph (Fig. 10). Another round of severe weather impacted northeast and northwest Ohio on March 31, producing two EF1 tornadoes in Geauga and Defiance Counties and one EF0 in Wayne County. With frequent tornado activity and associated hazards, including large hail, damaging winds, and heavy rainfall, March highlighted the importance of remaining weather-aware. These events serve as a reminder to stay alert for warnings and take appropriate precautions during rapidly changing conditions.

Looking Ahead​

With March bringing warmer and wetter-than-normal conditions across Ohio, a similar pattern is expected to persist through April, May, and June. Northeastern Ohio is forecast to have equal chances of below- or above-normal temperatures, while the rest of the state leans toward above-normal conditions. Southern Ohio shows the strongest signal, with a 40–50% likelihood of above-normal temperatures, while central and northwestern Ohio have a 30–40% chance of above-normal warmth (Fig. 11a). Precipitation patterns, however, are less consistent across the state. Southwest and parts of northwestern Ohio have equal chances of below- or above-normal precipitation. Meanwhile, much of the eastern two-thirds of the state is outlined with above-normal probabilities. The strongest signal is located in northeastern Ohio, with a 40–50% likelihood of above-normal precipitation (Fig. 11b).

Note: these outlooks do not provide the quantity of above or below normal conditions, just the likelihood of occurrence (i.e., the probability).​

Authors

Alexis Jahnke: Undergraduate Student​, Student Assistant: Climate Services​, Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center​, The Ohio State University, jahnke.30@osu.edu

Aiden Ridgway: Undergraduate Student​, Student Assistant: Climate Services​, Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center​, The Ohio State University, ridgway.72@osu.edu

Geddy R. Davis: Meteorologist/Atmospheric Scientist, Program Coordinator: Climate Services - Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center, The Ohio State University, davis.5694@osu.edu

Aaron B. Wilson:  State Climate Office of Ohio, Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center & OSU Extension, The Ohio State University, wilson.1010@osu.edu