Anytime precipitation totals are compared to the era of the “Dirty ’30s”, when a lack of rainfall led to wind erosion and massive dust clouds across the heart of the country, it isn’t a good thing. But that’s exactly what has happened to the month of March this year with a scant 0.08 of precipitation was recorded for the 31-day period at the North Central Research and Extension Center south of Minot.

Normal March rainfall for the Minot area, an average for the last 116 years of record keeping, is 0.84 inches, meaning that one good rainfall could easily make up the monthly deficit. However, with much of the region considered to be in “extreme” drought and 11 of the past 12 months having below-average rainfall, it is the yearly accumulation of precipitation that is perhaps more telling.

So far in 2021 the Minot area has received 0.83 inch of rain. That compares to the 116 year average accumulation for this time of year of 1.75 inches. While a good soaking rain of about an inch would bring the precipitation total for the year close to or above the long-term average, it would also be an unusual occurrence for this time of year.

The wettest March on record for Minot was in 1985 with 2.77 inches of precipitation. The least precipitation in March was zero in 1905, 1917, and 1926. Two years ago the March rainfall total in Minot was a mere 0.03 inches, much different than in the historic flood year of 2011 when 1.26 inches of precipitation fell in March.

The saying, “April showers brings May flowers,” has little relation to what actually has happened historically in the region where average April rainfall is just 1.14 inches.

Current dry conditions are reflected in burn bans throughout the state with 42 of 53 counties having enacted restrictions on burning. While the short-term weather forecast calls for warmer than usual temperatures and virtually no chance of precipitation, there is some hope for at least minimal precipitation during the first part of April. The Climate Prediction Center considers North Dakota’s chance of receiving some moisture at about 40% April 5-9.

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March

precipitation vs. 1930s

0.01 inch – 1930

0.02 inch – 1937

0.08 inch – 2021

0.24 inch – 1933

0.33 inch – 1936

0.34 inch – 1932

0.37 inch – 1935

0.40 inch – 1931

0.42 inch – 1934

0.45 inch – 1938

0.58 inch – 1939