Chicago, IL weather in March
Chicago is chilly in March, with frequent rain and some snow: highs average 48°F and nights drop to about 32°F. Expect about 11 wet days. Snowfall averages about 5.7 in.
- Normal high
- 48°F
- Normal low
- 32°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 2.7 in total
- Snowfall
- 5.7 in
- snow on the ground 4 days
How March changes from start to finish
| March 1 | March 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 42°F | 54°F |
| Normal low | 28°F | 36°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 35% | 37% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:25 am / 5:40 pm | 6:34 am / 7:14 pm |
| Daylight | 11.3 h | 12.7 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Central Time).
A typical March day
- 6 am34°Fdew point 27°F
- 9 am38°Fdew point 28°F
- Noon43°Fdew point 28°F
- 3 pm45°Fdew point 28°F
- 6 pm42°Fdew point 28°F
- 9 pm39°Fdew point 29°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Chicago Midway Airport (7 mi away); average wind 11 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F3 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph0 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 snow11 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below18 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more4 of 31
Average days per March, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in March
Normal precipitation is 2.7 in; a dry March brings about 1.8 in and a wet one about 3.3 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 5.7 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How March varies from year to year
- Warmest March, 1991-20202012: average high 63°F
- Coolest March2013: average high 41°F
- Wettest March2009: 6.8 in
- Driest March1994: 0.7 in
- Highest reading86°F (March 21, 2012)
- Lowest reading-4°F (March 4, 2002)
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 | 37°F | 48°F | 60°F |
| Normal low | 23°F | 32°F | 42°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 11 | 12 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 3 | 9 |
| Daylight | 10.6 h | 12.0 h | 13.4 h |
Highs change by +11°F from February and +12°F into April.
Nearby alternatives in March
- Warmer: Springfield, IL176 mi · high 53°F · 11 wet days
- Drier: Wisconsin Dells, WI163 mi · high 43°F · 8 wet days
- Cooler: Green Bay, WI185 mi · high 40°F · 10 wet days
How Chicago ranks in March
- Normal high287th warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 8 in Illinois
- Wet days287th driest of 378
- Comfortable days254th most of 339
What to pack for Chicago in March
- A warm jacket – lows near 32°F, highs near 48°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 11 days
- Waterproof boots – about 5.7 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 18 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
March has 779 heating degree days and 2 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 11% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Chicago in March?
The normal high is 48°F and the normal low is 32°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest March reading was -4°F (March 4, 2002).
Does it rain a lot in Chicago in March?
About 11 days in March have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.7 in. The wettest March in 1991-2020 was in 2009 (6.8 in); the driest was in 1994 (0.7 in).
Does it snow in Chicago in March?
Yes. Normal snowfall in March is 5.7 in, and snow covers the ground on about 4 days.
Is March a good time to visit Chicago?
March ranks 8th of 12 months on our comfort score for Chicago (45 out of 100). It has about 3 comfortable days. The best months are May and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and snow depth: Chicago Midway Airport 3SW (USC00111577), 10 mi SW of the city center, 620 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Chicago Midway Airport (USW00014819), 6.9 mi SW of the city center, 612 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Chicago Midway Intl Arpt (725340-14819), 7.1 mi SW of the city center, 610 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).