The average maximum temperature during March 2008 in Malaga was 21 Celsius (69F), and that was nearly 2 Celsius (3F) above average. The average minimum was 12 Celsius (54F), almost 2 Celsius (3F.) above normal.
The highest temperature recorded during the month was 25.3 Celsius (77.5F) on the 30th. This was 0.3 Celsius higher than the maximum on the 8th. The high on the 16th was only slightly under 25 Celsius, and there were 3 days with maxima around 24 Celsius. On the 20th, the highest temperature was just over 15 Celsius (59F), and on both the 6th and 23rd the temperature remained below 16 Celsius (61F).
There were no outstandingly warm nights during March, but on the night of the 11th/12th the minimum temperature was 16 Celsius (61F). There were 11 nights with minima of 13 Celsius (55F). including 3 nights with lows around 15 Celsius (59F). There were only 6 nights when the temperature fell below 10 Celsius (50F), including 3 nights with minima below 8 Celsius (46F). Early on the 24th, the temperature fell to 6.8 Celsius (44F).
Sea temperatures were around 15 Celsius (59F), rising to just over 16 Celsius at the end of March.
Rain
All the measurable rain in Malaga fell during the period 19th to 23rd. On the 20th, 18.5 millimetres (0.7 inches) of rain was recorded. There were 4 days of significant rain (0.2mm or more) during the month, 20% below average, and the total rainfall for the month, 23.1 millimetres (0.9 inches), was over 60% below normal.
Rainfall in other parts of southern Spain was well short of the average during March, as seen in the Table below.
Reporting Station
Total in mm.
as a %
Rain Days (Av.)
Malaga Airport
22
45
2 (4)
Granada Airport
6
21
5 (5)
Almeria
3
17
2 (3)
Seville
14
37
5 (5)
Cordoba
7
17
3 (5)
Jerez de la Frontera
14
33
3 (5)
Murcia
0.4
1
1 (3)
Thunder
Thunder occurred in Malaga and west to Fuengirola on the 20th during the morning. A few isolated thunderstorms occurred elsewhere, and in the west of Andalucia on the previous day.
Wind
The normal pattern of winds resumed during March, with northwesterly winds predominating. These were mainly gentle or moderate, with a light or gentle southeasterly sea breeze developing on several afternoons. On the 5th and 6th, northwesterly winds were accompanied by exceptionally low relative humidity. At times it was between 9 and 13% with de-point readings of minus 16 Celsius (3F)!
