Isle of Man records lowest March rainfall since 1953

Into the top 20 driest months on record

Ronaldsway Met Office recorded the second lowest March rainfall on record last month, the lowest since 1953.

There was just 13mm of rainfall, 50mm below average.

Compare that to last year when 116.9mm fell, surpassing the average for March by 53mm.

The met office says, on a broader scale, last month falls into the top 20 driest of any months on record and is the driest month since June 2018’s heatwave. 

22 March was the wettest day at only 3.9mm of rainfall.

Average top temperatures came in at 11.0°C, the second highest on record behind March 2012.

The highest temperature overall was a very warm 16.1°C on 9 March, the second highest March temperature on record. It's also the earliest in the year the temperature has reached those heights.

Ronaldsway says there was no air frost, but with plenty of clear skies, there were eleven nights across the month where we experienced a ground frost.

In terms of sunshine, there was around 28 percent more than average - totalling 158.7 hours - the eighth highest total on record.

Gales were down, we didn't see a single one - welcome relief for those involved in the continuing clear-up after January's Storm Éowyn.

The mean wind speed was 1.7 knots below average at 11.5 knots. The strongest gust, on 27 March, was 42 knots.

The spell of dry weather is expected to continue over the coming days and week leading to a warning from the Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service regarding wildfires.