Indianapolis, IN weather in March
Indianapolis is chilly in March, with frequent rain and some snow: highs average 52°F and nights drop to about 33°F. Expect about 12 wet days. Snowfall averages about 3.2 in.
- Normal high
- 52°F
- Normal low
- 33°F
- Wet days
- 12
- 3.7 in total
- Snowfall
- 3.2 in
- snow on the ground 2 days
How March changes from start to finish
| March 1 | March 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 46°F | 58°F |
| Normal low | 28°F | 38°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 36% | 38% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:17 am / 6:36 pm | 7:30 am / 8:07 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 (Eastern Time).
A typical March day
- 6 am36°Fdew point 30°F
- 9 am39°Fdew point 31°F
- Noon46°Fdew point 32°F
- 3 pm49°Fdew point 32°F
- 6 pm48°Fdew point 32°F
- 9 pm43°Fdew point 32°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Indianapolis (9 mi away); average wind 11 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F6 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 snow12 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below16 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 3.7 in; a dry March brings about 2.4 in and a wet one about 4.7 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 3.2 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How March varies from year to year
- Warmest March, 1991-20202012: average high 67°F
- Coolest March2013: average high 43°F
- Wettest March2008: 7.5 in
- Driest March2001: 0.6 in
- Highest reading84°F (March 21, 2012)
- Lowest reading2°F (March 4, 2019)
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 | 41°F | 52°F | 64°F |
| Normal low | 24°F | 33°F | 43°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 12 | 12 |
| Comfortable days | 1 | 6 | 13 |
| Daylight | 10.7 h | 12.0 h | 13.3 h |
Highs change by +11°F from February and +12°F into April.
Nearby alternatives in March
- Warmer: Louisville, KY114 mi · high 58°F · 12 wet days
- Drier: Warren, MI249 mi · high 45°F · 8 wet days
- Cooler: South Bend, IN132 mi · high 46°F · 12 wet days
How Indianapolis ranks in March
- Normal high255th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 6 in Indiana
- Wet days309th driest of 378
- Comfortable days215th most of 339
What to pack for Indianapolis in March
- A warm jacket – lows near 33°F, highs near 52°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 12 days
- Waterproof boots – about 3.2 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 16 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
March has 702 heating degree days and 3 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 11% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Indianapolis in March?
The normal high is 52°F and the normal low is 33°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest March reading was 2°F (most recently on March 4, 2019).
Does it rain a lot in Indianapolis in March?
About 12 days in March have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.7 in. The wettest March in 1991-2020 was in 2008 (7.5 in); the driest was in 2001 (0.6 in).
Does it snow in Indianapolis in March?
Yes. Normal snowfall in March is 3.2 in, and snow covers the ground on about 2 days.
Is March a good time to visit Indianapolis?
March ranks 8th of 12 months on our comfort score for Indianapolis (50 out of 100). It has about 6 comfortable days. The best months are April and May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Indianapolis (USW00093819), 8.6 mi SW of the city center, 790 ft (72 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Indianapolis International Airport (724380-93819), 8.1 mi WSW of the city center, 792 ft (74 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).