Yosemite Valley, CA weather in March
Yosemite Valley is cool and snowy in March: highs average 57°F and nights drop to about 34°F. There are about 11 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 10.8 in. Expect snow on the ground at times.
- Normal high
- 57°F
- Normal low
- 34°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 5.5 in total
- Snowfall
- 10.8 in
- snow on the ground 5 days
How March changes from start to finish
| March 1 | March 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 54°F | 60°F |
| Normal low | 32°F | 35°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 35% | 31% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:29 am / 5:51 pm | 6:44 am / 7:19 pm |
| Daylight | 11.4 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).
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F (temperature only: no humidity station nearby)9 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow11 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in8 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below13 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more5 of 31
Average days per March, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in March
Normal precipitation is 5.5 in; a dry March brings about 2.3 in and a wet one about 6.9 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 4 days bring half an inch or more, and about 2 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 10.8 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How March varies from year to year
- Warmest March, 1991-20201997: average high 65°F
- Coolest March2006: average high 45°F
- Wettest March1991: 19.5 in
- Driest March1997: 0.2 in
- Highest reading79°F (March 31, 2015)
- Lowest reading18°F (March 1, 2007)
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 | 51°F | 57°F | 63°F |
| Normal low | 30°F | 34°F | 38°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 11 | 7 |
| Comfortable days | 3 | 9 | 16 |
| Daylight | 10.8 h | 12.0 h | 13.2 h |
Highs change by +6°F from February and +6°F into April.
Nearby alternatives in March
- Warmer: Fresno, CA70 mi · high 68°F · 7 wet days
- Drier: Mammoth Lakes, CA34 mi · high 46°F · 7 wet days
- Cooler: Mammoth Lakes, CA34 mi · high 46°F · 7 wet days
How Yosemite Valley ranks in March
- Normal high212th warmest of 378 cities; 57th of 60 in California
- Wet days272nd driest of 378
What to pack for Yosemite Valley in March
- A warm jacket – lows near 34°F, highs near 57°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 11 days
- Waterproof boots – about 10.8 in of snow in a typical year
Heating and cooling
March has 617 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 11% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Yosemite Valley in March?
The normal high is 57°F and the normal low is 34°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest March reading was 18°F (March 1, 2007).
Does it rain a lot in Yosemite Valley in March?
About 11 days in March have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 5.5 in. The wettest March in 1991-2020 was in 1991 (19.5 in); the driest was in 1997 (0.2 in).
Does it snow in Yosemite Valley in March?
Yes. Normal snowfall in March is 10.8 in, and snow covers the ground on about 5 days.
Is March a good time to visit Yosemite Valley?
March ranks 6th of 12 months on our comfort score for Yosemite Valley (55 out of 100). It has about 9 comfortable days (judged by temperature only). The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain and frost dates: Yosemite Park Hq (USC00049855), 0.8 mi NW of the city center, 4,018 ft (52 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: Hetch Hetchy (USC00043939), 19 mi NW of the city center, 3,870 ft (96 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: humidity and wind by hour, cloud cover and daily humidity and wind (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).