March rainfall in the Yachats area was all over the map – literally.

Rain measurements in the city were very average for the month, with the “official” rain gauge at the Yachats water treatment plant measuring 5.21 inches in March for a three-month total of 15.12 inches. But the city’s 10-year average for March is nearly double — 10.73 inches — that.

Adam Altson, who lives a block from the city’s gauge, recorded 5.14 inches of rain in March, bringing him to 14.14 inches for the year. He termed March as “definitely a transitional month” for weather moving from winter to spring.

Two miles north of Yachats, weather watcher Donald Tucker recorded 6.28 inches of rain in March for a three-month total of 18.56 inches. It was the most March rain he’s recorded in four years. Tucker’s 10-year average for March is 7.96 inches.

It was much wetter up the Yachats River valley, which counts the most when it comes to supplying the city’s water.

Bob Williams, who lives eight miles upriver, recorded 9.43 inches of rain in March and 30.03 inches so far in 2022. But, in 2021 William’s three-month total was 46.60 inches.

Jean-Marc Rolland lives two miles east of Williams and had 10.32 inches of rain in March and 29.67 inches so far in 2022.

Tucker said like most Marches, the month was “pretty ho-hum with one exception.” In Tucker’s 16 years of record keeping, March had the highest average low temperature — 42.6 degrees — surpassing 2015 and 2016 where the average low temp was 42.3 degrees.

“In all instances the average temperatures — high, low, and average — continue their extremely slow creep up,” he said.

Tucker said while March’s rainfall was “somewhat close” to average, the month is still getting drier over time.

“April and May will be the months to watch, both for temperatures and rain,” he said. “If rainfall for the next two months continues to decline and the temperatures are steady or tend to rise we will have to be particularly vigilant if we are to avoid another major summer wildfire season.”