Chico, CA weather in March
Expect mild weather with some rain in Chico in March, with highs near 67°F and lows near 43°F. Rain falls on about 9 days. Good for outdoor plans.
- Normal high
- 67°F
- Normal low
- 43°F
- Wet days
- 9
- 2.8 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How March changes from start to finish
| March 1 | March 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 65°F | 69°F |
| Normal low | 42°F | 44°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 31% | 24% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:40 am / 5:59 pm | 6:52 am / 7:30 pm |
| Daylight | 11.3 h | 12.6 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Pacific Time).
A typical March day
- 6 am46°Fdew point 39°F
- 9 am53°Fdew point 41°F
- Noon61°Fdew point 40°F
- 3 pm64°Fdew point 39°F
- 6 pm61°Fdew point 42°F
- 9 pm53°Fdew point 42°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Red Bluff Muni Airport (37 mi away); average wind 9 mph; clear or few clouds in 63% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 32%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F16 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow9 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below1 of 31
Average days per March, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in March
Normal precipitation is 2.8 in; a dry March brings about 1.1 in and a wet one about 4.0 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Snow is very rare.
How March varies from year to year
- Warmest March, 1991-20202015: average high 76°F
- Coolest March2006: average high 57°F
- Wettest March1995: 8.8 in
- Driest March2008: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading88°F (March 31, 2002)
- Lowest reading28°F (March 11, 1991)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
March compared with February and April
| February | March | April | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 62°F | 67°F | 73°F |
| Normal low | 40°F | 43°F | 47°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 9 | 6 |
| Comfortable days | 10 | 16 | 17 |
| Daylight | 10.7 h | 12.0 h | 13.3 h |
Highs change by +5°F from February and +6°F into April.
Nearby alternatives in March
- Drier: Reno, NV109 mi · high 59°F · 6 wet days
- Cooler: Incline Village, NV105 mi · high 45°F · 10 wet days
How Chico ranks in March
- Normal high135th warmest of 378 cities; 36th of 60 in California
- Wet days173rd driest of 378
- Comfortable days52nd most of 339
What to pack for Chico in March
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 9 days
Frost in March
The last spring frost typically comes around Mar 4; in 1 year in 10 it comes after Apr 2. All frost dates for Chico.
Heating and cooling
March has 315 heating degree days and 4 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 8% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Chico in March?
The normal high is 67°F and the normal low is 43°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest March reading was 28°F (March 11, 1991).
Does it rain a lot in Chico in March?
About 9 days in March have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.8 in. The wettest March in 1991-2020 was in 1995 (8.8 in); the driest was in 2008, with no measurable precipitation.
Is March a good time to visit Chico?
March ranks 2nd of 12 months on our comfort score for Chico (69 out of 100). It has about 16 comfortable days. The best month is April.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and snow depth: Orland (USC00046506), 19 mi W of the city center, 254 ft (56 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates: Chico Univ Farm (USC00041715), 2.7 mi SSE of the city center, 185 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Red Bluff Muni Airport (USW00024216), 37 mi NW of the city center, 353 ft (155 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Red Bluff Municipal Arpt (725910-24216), 37 mi NW of the city center, 355 ft (157 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.