March 2026 Climate Summaries
Mobile Alabama and Pensacola Florida Area
National Weather Service Mobile Alabama
April 1, 2026
March 2026 in Review - As we begin to open up Spring, March temperatures were above normal by 3 to 5° at Mobile and Pensacola. In fact, the average monthly high of 77.2° at Mobile broke into the top five warmest March's on record. Pensacola's average high of 74.6° broke into the top ten warmest March's. The extended warm spell occurred the first and latter third of the month. The warmest more lengthy spell of highs and lows for the month averaged 10.1° above normal and 12.7° above normal the 1st to the 11th respectively at Mobile. During this time span, Mobile saw three days of record warmth, one record high on the 10th and two record high lows on the mornings of the 6th and 10th. At Pensacola, the most notable means about the normal were the lows from the 1st to the 11th which averaged 8.1° above normal for the period. During this time span, Pensacola saw two mornings of record warmth when new record high lows were reached the 10th and 11th.
A couple strong cold frontal passages the middle of the month sent temperatures lower in their wake. The more substantial front of the two made passage the morning of the 16th. Morning lows averaged 14.2° below normal at Mobile and 14.4° below normal at Pensacola from the 16th to the 20th. During this stretch of colder weather, Mobile dropped to freezing two mornings on the 17th and 18th and Pensacola on the 17th, matching and/or setting new records these days for both sites. Following, daily temperatures rebounded to above normal for much of the remainder of the month.
Outside of a record wet day on the 8th, Mobile's rainfall was short of two inches from the normal March rainfall mark. Pensacola was in deficit by over three inches of normal March rainfall. High intensity drought maintains a firm grip over the deep south and continues as the top weather story.
Mobile Alabama Area [Climate Normal Period 1991-2020, Climate Record Period 1872 to Present]- The average monthly high of 77.2° was 5.4° above normal. This stands in the top five warmest March's on record at number three. The average monthly low of 54.2° was 4.2° above normal. The average monthly temperature of 65.7° was 4.8° above normal and just missed lifting into the top ten average monthly warmest March's on record taking the number eleven position. The highest temperature for the month, 85°, occurring on the 23rd and 27th was 12° and 11° above normal for these days respectively. The lowest temperature for the month dipped to a record setting 32° on the mornings of the 17th and 18th, 18° below normal for these mornings. There were five record temperatures reached or broken for the month. Please see Mobile's March 2026 Record Temperature Breakout for more details. (Fig. A) is a new graph showing a graphical representation of how the Mobile area temperatures compared to the seasonal normal daily highs and lows. Daily records, if reached or broken, are also indicated. Bar graphs reflecting the daily high/low temperature departures from normal are provided (Figs. B and C). Outside of March 8th when 2.10" of rainfall broke the previous one day record of 1.96" set on this date in 2024, the rain gauge caught a monthly total of 3.55" (Fig. D) or 1.89" below normal. Accumulated rainfall to date is a meager 7.05" for Mobile and has surged in deficit by 8.52" below normal since January 1st. Interestingly, this is less than two inches away from being the driest January to March period on record to date. (Fig. E).
March Top Records for the Month During the Period of Record for the Mobile Area:
Click on the Mobile Alabama area climate graphics below to expand:
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Pensacola Florida Area [Climate Normal Period 1991-2020, Climate Record Period 1879 to Present] - The average monthly high of 74.6° was 2.6° above normal. This stands in the top ten warmest March's on record at number eight. The average monthly low was 56.3° was 3.6° above normal. The average monthly temperature of 65.5° was 3.2° above normal. The highest temperature for the month was 85° occurring on the 23rd and 12° above normal for the date; this broke a daily record by two degrees. The lowest temperature for the month sank to a record setting 32° on the morning of the 17th, 21° below normal for the morning and breaking a daily record low by two degrees. There were three other record temperatures broken for the month. Please see Pensacola's March 2026 Record Temperature Breakout for more details. (Fig. F) is a new graph showing a graphical representation of how the Pensacola area temperatures compared to the seasonal normal daily highs and lows. Daily records, if reached or broken, are also indicated. (Figs. G and H) shows the daily high/low temperature departures from normal. The rain gauge collected shy of two inches for the month at 1.95" (Fig. I), 3.30" below normal for the month. Accumulated rainfall to date, 7.81", is now in deficit by 7.24" below normal since January 1st. (Fig. J).
March Top Records for the Month During the Period of Record for the Pensacola Area:
Click on the Pensacola Florida area climate graphics below to expand:
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Additional March 2026 Climatology and Topics
Rainfall has been in short supply with monthly departures over most of the region some 2 to 4 inches in deficit and some 25 to 75% of March normal. (Fig. K) shows the areal monthly rainfall total, (Fig. L) shows the areal rainfall departures from normal, and (Fig. M) the areal percent of normal rainfall. The lack of rainfall is exacerbating high intensity drought over the central Gulf coast. The worst of the drought, at extreme levels, is positioned over southern Georgia into northern and southern Florida. Embedded in the extreme drought is exceptional drought intensity. (Fig. N).
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April 2026 Climatology, Seasonal Climatology and Outlooks:
The latest outlook for April favors temperatures to lean above normal over much of the country. Equal chances of above or below normal precipitation is favored over the Coastal Plain. Although we are typically well past the normal last freeze, the climate period of record still tells us we can still get a freeze well into the month of April, especially over the interior deep into the month. Considering this, gardeners and commercial growers should be prepared to cover up tender garden vegetables if a threat of freezing temperatures materializes. Little relief from drought is anticipated in the short term. click on the link => Local Drought Information Statements for specific details on coverage, impacts, and outlooks.
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Additional Climate Links:
The National Weather Service Mobile Alabama's Climate and Past Weather page provides climate data at your fingertips for many observation points in the local forecast area by accessing the NOWData tab as well as many other climate resources. The Climate Prediction Center Link provides short and longer range climatic outlooks and education about the larger scale global circulations that impact temperatures and weather. With the large agriculture and farming presence along the central Gulf coast, the Drought Monitor link provides updates on drought trends and impacts. Another very helpful resource is the Community Collaborative Rain Hail and Snow (CoCoRaHS) network, which is a large group of volunteers working together to measure and map precipitation (rain, hail, and snow). The aim of CoCoRaHS is to provide the highest quality data for natural resource, education and research applications. You can be a part of the CoCoRaHS team by becoming a volunteer rainfall observer.
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