Rockford, IL weather in March
March in Rockford: chilly, with frequent rain and some snow. Highs 47°F, lows 28°F, rain or snow on about 11 days and about 4.9 in of snow.
- Normal high
- 47°F
- Normal low
- 28°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 2.4 in total
- Snowfall
- 4.9 in
- snow on the ground 5 days
How March changes from start to finish
| March 1 | March 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 39°F | 54°F |
| Normal low | 23°F | 33°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 33% | 36% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:31 am / 5:45 pm | 6:40 am / 7:20 pm |
| Daylight | 11.2 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 am31°Fdew point 25°F
- 9 am36°Fdew point 27°F
- Noon42°Fdew point 27°F
- 3 pm44°Fdew point 27°F
- 6 pm41°Fdew point 27°F
- 9 pm36°Fdew point 27°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Rockford Gtr Rockford Airport (5 mi away); average wind 10 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 snow11 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in5 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below22 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 2.4 in; a dry March brings about 1.3 in and a wet one about 3.4 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 4.9 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 37°F
- Wettest March2009: 5.8 in
- Driest March2005: 0.4 in
- Highest reading84°F (March 21, 2012)
- Lowest reading-11°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 | 33°F | 47°F | 60°F |
| Normal low | 18°F | 28°F | 39°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 11 | 12 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 3 | 9 |
| Daylight | 10.6 h | 11.9 h | 13.4 h |
Highs change by +14°F from February and +13°F into April.
Nearby alternatives in March
- Warmer: Springfield, IL173 mi · high 53°F · 11 wet days
- Drier: Sister Bay, WI224 mi · high 36°F · 8 wet days
- Cooler: Green Bay, WI164 mi · high 40°F · 10 wet days
How Rockford ranks in March
- Normal high305th warmest of 378 cities; 6th of 8 in Illinois
- Wet days268th driest of 378
- Comfortable days257th most of 339
What to pack for Rockford in March
- A warm jacket – lows near 28°F, highs near 47°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 11 days
- Waterproof boots – about 4.9 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 22 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
March has 860 heating degree days and 2 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 12% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Rockford in March?
The normal high is 47°F and the normal low is 28°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest March reading was -11°F (most recently on March 3, 2014).
Does it rain a lot in Rockford in March?
About 11 days in March have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.4 in. The wettest March in 1991-2020 was in 2009 (5.8 in); the driest was in 2005 (0.4 in).
Does it snow in Rockford in March?
Yes. Normal snowfall in March is 4.9 in, and snow covers the ground on about 5 days.
Is March a good time to visit Rockford?
March ranks 8th of 12 months on our comfort score for Rockford (45 out of 100). It has about 3 comfortable days. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Rockford Gtr Rockford Airport (USW00094822), 5.4 mi S of the city center, 730 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Greater Rockford Airport (725430-94822), 5.4 mi S of the city center, 725 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).