Joliet, IL weather in March
Expect chilly weather with frequent rain in Joliet in March, with highs near 47°F and lows near 29°F. Rain or snow falls on about 10 days. Snowfall averages about 2.1 in.
- Normal high
- 47°F
- Normal low
- 29°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 2.3 in total
- Snowfall
- 2.1 in
- snow on the ground 2 days
How March changes from start to finish
| March 1 | March 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 41°F | 54°F |
| Normal low | 24°F | 34°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 32% | 36% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:26 am / 5:42 pm | 6:36 am / 7:16 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 (25 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
- 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 snow10 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in5 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below21 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more2 of 31
Average days per March, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in March
Normal precipitation is 2.3 in; a dry March brings about 1.3 in and a wet one about 3.2 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 2.1 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 39°F
- Wettest March2017: 5.7 in
- Driest March2015: 0.5 in
- Highest reading84°F (March 22, 2012)
- Lowest reading-7°F (March 5, 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 | 35°F | 47°F | 60°F |
| Normal low | 20°F | 29°F | 39°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 10 | 12 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| Daylight | 10.6 h | 12.0 h | 13.3 h |
Highs change by +12°F from February and +13°F into April.
Nearby alternatives in March
- Warmer: Springfield, IL144 mi · high 53°F · 11 wet days
- Cooler: Green Bay, WI207 mi · high 40°F · 10 wet days
How Joliet ranks in March
- Normal high301st warmest of 378 cities; 5th of 8 in Illinois
- Wet days236th driest of 378
- Comfortable days243rd most of 339
What to pack for Joliet in March
- A warm jacket – lows near 29°F, highs near 47°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 10 days
- A hat and gloves – about 21 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
March has 835 heating degree days and 1 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 12% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Joliet in March?
The normal high is 47°F and the normal low is 29°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest March reading was -7°F (most recently on March 5, 2002).
Does it rain a lot in Joliet in March?
About 10 days in March have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.3 in. The wettest March in 1991-2020 was in 2017 (5.7 in); the driest was in 2015 (0.5 in).
Does it snow in Joliet in March?
Yes. Normal snowfall in March is 2.1 in, and snow covers the ground on about 2 days.
Is March a good time to visit Joliet?
March ranks 8th of 12 months on our comfort score for Joliet (46 out of 100). It has about 3 comfortable days. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Joliet Brandon Rd Dam (USC00114530), 1.9 mi SW of the city center, 543 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Chicago Midway Airport (USW00014819), 25 mi NE of the city center, 612 ft (71 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Chicago Midway Intl Arpt (725340-14819), 25 mi NE of the city center, 610 ft (69 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).