Heat in Northeast Johnson County, Wyoming

The latter half of March featured record warmth for Buffalo. At the Johnson County airport for the period March 17 to 30 every day but one had above normal daily average temperatures, with 10 of those days 10 or more degrees above normal. Five new daily record high temperatures were set. The old monthly record high of 79 degrees was tied or broken four times. There were two high temperatures over 80, which were the earliest occurrences of 80 degrees in station history and the first recorded 80 degree March high temperature in station history. Records at the Buffalo airport date back to 1998.

A very strong ridge of high pressure set up across much of the western United States and brought an long period of record breaking warmth. The most impressive stretch was from March 18 through March 21. In total, 71 new daily record high temperatures were set out of a possible 126 high temperatures at RIW CLI sites (longer term climate sites), greater than half of the daily highs. Every location was at least 10 degrees above normal through the period. Every location had their all time warmest period for these two weeks, with three locations; the Riverton Airport, the Sweetwater County airport near Rock Springs, and the Lander airport; more than 8 degrees above the previous warmest period. All locations set their all time high temperature March multiple times in this stretch. Six locations had their earliest 80 degree high temperature, with four stations having their first 80 degree or greater March high temperatures in station history.