While we remain in the throes of winter, let’s look back at some REALLY warm March weather.

It was 145 years ago that the warmest March in Upper Michigan followed the warmest winter on record. Each winter month was well above average, with February 1878 nearly 13 degrees above the current average for the month.

March 1878 had five record highs and four record warm low temperatures that till stand. These warm temperatures brought spring to the U.P. over a month earlier than normal.

In Ishpeming, the swamp frogs or “peepers” could be heard before St. Patrick’s Day. Trees began to show buds in Negaunee and farmers began plowing their fields. March 1878 had a mean temperature of 40.3 degrees–six-tenths of a degree warmer than the most recent record-warm March in 2012.

Speaking of that historic month, St. Patrick’s Day started a string of five consecutive days with high temperatures above 70 degrees. The mean temperature at the National Weather Service for the two weeks between March 11 and March 24 was an astounding 26.5 degrees above average!

Three days, March 18, 20 and 21 all came in 40 degrees or more above average for the day. The high on March 21 was 81–the only time it’s reached 80 in March at the weather service.

Behind the current storm, temperatures will be near to below average to start next week. No major snowfall is expected, at least through mid-week.