Armenia logs wettest March on record

Armenia recorded its wettest March since meteorological observations began in 1935, with rainfall and snowfall far surpassing historical norms, the Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Center reported on Monday.

The spring of 2026 averaged 4.3C, about 0.7C below the seasonal norm. Total precipitation reached 260 millimeters, 31 percent above average. March and April were especially wet, with rainfall measuring 199 percent and 131 percent of their monthly norms. Overall, this spring ranked as the 12th wettest in more than 90 years of records.

High-altitude stations saw extraordinary precipitation. Amberd recorded 217.9 mm in March, while Aragats measured 278.6 mm — three to five times above normal. On March 28, snow depth at Aragats reached 324 cm, setting a new record.

Temperatures swung sharply. The lowest was -20.5C in Tsaghkahovit on March 10, while the highest was 33.5C in Meghri on May 28. A cold spell from April 14–16 dropped daily temperatures 5–7C below average, with frost reported in the Ararat Valley.

Hailstorms struck in May, including one in Stepanavan on May 6 where hailstones measured 14 mm in diameter.

Long-term data show Armenia’s average spring temperature has risen by 2.0C since 1935, while precipitation has declined by about 10 percent. The wettest spring remains 1963 with 351 mm of rainfall, while the driest was 1989 with just 104.4 mm.