Peoria, IL weather in March
March in Peoria: chilly, with frequent rain and some snow. Highs 51°F, lows 32°F, about 11 wet days and about 3.3 in of snow.
- Normal high
- 51°F
- Normal low
- 32°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 2.7 in total
- Snowfall
- 3.3 in
- snow on the ground 3 days
How March changes from start to finish
| March 1 | March 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 44°F | 58°F |
| Normal low | 26°F | 37°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 33% | 35% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:32 am / 5:49 pm | 6:43 am / 7:21 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 (Central Time).
A typical March day
- 6 am34°Fdew point 28°F
- 9 am39°Fdew point 30°F
- Noon46°Fdew point 30°F
- 3 pm48°Fdew point 31°F
- 6 pm45°Fdew point 30°F
- 9 pm41°Fdew point 31°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Peoria Gtr Peoria Airport (5 mi away); average wind 10 mph; clear or few clouds in 50% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 45%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F5 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 below17 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more3 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 1.6 in and a wet one about 3.6 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 3.3 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How March varies from year to year
- Warmest March, 1991-20202012: average high 66°F
- Coolest March2013: average high 42°F
- Wettest March2009: 7.5 in
- Driest March2015: 0.7 in
- Highest reading82°F (March 21, 2012)
- Lowest reading-6°F (March 3, 2014)
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 | 39°F | 51°F | 64°F |
| Normal low | 21°F | 32°F | 42°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 11 | 12 |
| Comfortable days | 1 | 5 | 11 |
| Daylight | 10.7 h | 12.0 h | 13.3 h |
Highs change by +12°F from February and +13°F into April.
Nearby alternatives in March
- Warmer: St. Louis, MO146 mi · high 57°F · 11 wet days
- Cooler: Elgin, IL115 mi · high 46°F · 10 wet days
How Peoria ranks in March
- Normal high261st warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 8 in Illinois
- Wet days251st driest of 378
- Comfortable days225th most of 339
What to pack for Peoria in March
- A warm jacket – lows near 32°F, highs near 51°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 11 days
- Waterproof boots – about 3.3 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 17 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
March has 734 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 Peoria in March?
The normal high is 51°F and the normal low is 32°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest March reading was -6°F (March 3, 2014).
Does it rain a lot in Peoria 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 (7.5 in); the driest was in 2015 (0.7 in).
Does it snow in Peoria in March?
Yes. Normal snowfall in March is 3.3 in, and snow covers the ground on about 3 days.
Is March a good time to visit Peoria?
March ranks 8th of 12 months on our comfort score for Peoria (49 out of 100). It has about 5 comfortable days. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Peoria Gtr Peoria Airport (USW00014842), 5.3 mi WSW of the city center, 650 ft (148 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Greater Peoria Regional Airport (725320-14842), 5.3 mi WSW of the city center, 655 ft (153 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.