Home | Sponsors | History | Stuff You Must Know | The Course | Categories | Rules | For Your Safety | Surviving Bataan | Weather Information | Printable Forms | Event Schedule | FAQs | Comments | One Team's Story | Media Information | Results | 2007 Gallery | Getting to White Sands | Accommodations

 Marchers should be aware that since 2007, Daylight Savings Time begins annually on the second Sunday of March.  Therefore, it will be in effect on March 30, 2008.  Sunrise and sunset times will be 6:56 a.m. and 7:25 p.m., Mountain Daylight time, respectively. 

Late March at White Sands Missile Range is characterized by abundant sunshine and dry west-to-southwesterly winds, so marchers can expect warm, windy and dry conditions.  In fact, March is the driest month of the year, in terms of average precipitation, with only 0.30 of an inch.  Long dry spells are common.  Not surprisingly, snow and thunderstorms are rare. 

The main weather hazard in late March is the threat of driving windstorms, which can produce areas of blowing dust and sand, due to the typically dry soil conditions.  Over the period of record 1980-2004, the 24-hour average wind speed in late March is about 8 mph, with daily maximum gusts of near 30 mph.  However, wind speeds along the east-facing slopes of the Organ and San Andres Mountains, near much of the march route, can be much higher, with gusts of 50-60 mph quite common during windstorms.  This is due to the downsloping effect.  Such gusts greeted many of those crossing the finish line during the 2005 event.  Wind are typically at their calmest early in the morning, around sunrise, then gradually increase in intensity as the ground heats up through the morning.  Peak winds are usually observed during the mid- or late afternoon hours. 

Morning low temperatures average in the low-mid 40s F with subfreezing temperatures unlikely.  Ironically, a windy night will actually keep morning temperatures higher, with low-mid 50s F common in such cases.  Temperatures rise fairly quickly in the late March, New Mexico sun, reaching the mid-60s F by noon and topping out in the mid-70s F around 4 p.m..  Exceptionally warm days may reach the mid-80s F.  Relative humidities are low, as might be expected in desert environs, and in late March average 52 percent at 5 a.m., 18 percent at 11a.m. and 5 p.m., and 32 percent at 11 p.m.
 

Sources:  U.S. Naval Observatory, White Sands Missile Range Climate Calendar, White Sands Missile Range Climatology Webpage.
 

Refunds will NOT be given once you register.  Registration is non-transferable.