South Bend, IN weather in March
March in South Bend: chilly, with frequent rain and some snow. Highs 46°F, lows 27°F, rain or snow on about 12 days and about 6.8 in of snow.
- Normal high
- 46°F
- Normal low
- 27°F
- Wet days
- 12
- 2.4 in total
- Snowfall
- 6.8 in
- snow on the ground 5 days
How March changes from start to finish
| March 1 | March 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 40°F | 53°F |
| Normal low | 23°F | 32°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 42% | 41% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:19 am / 6:35 pm | 7:29 am / 8:08 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 (Eastern Time).
A typical March day
- 6 am32°Fdew point 26°F
- 9 am35°Fdew point 28°F
- Noon41°Fdew point 28°F
- 3 pm44°Fdew point 28°F
- 6 pm42°Fdew point 28°F
- 9 pm38°Fdew point 28°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from South Bend Michiana Rgnl Airport (4 mi away); average wind 10 mph; clear or few clouds in 44% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 50%.
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 snow12 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below21 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 1.7 in and a wet one about 2.8 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 6.8 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How March varies from year to year
- Warmest March, 1991-20202012: average high 63°F
- Coolest March2013: average high 40°F
- Wettest March2009: 5.5 in
- Driest March2015: 0.8 in
- Highest reading85°F (March 21, 2012)
- Lowest reading-4°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 | 35°F | 46°F | 59°F |
| Normal low | 19°F | 27°F | 37°F |
| Wet days | 12 | 12 | 13 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 3 | 9 |
| Daylight | 10.6 h | 12.0 h | 13.4 h |
Highs change by +11°F from February and +13°F into April.
Nearby alternatives in March
- Warmer: Indianapolis, IN132 mi · high 52°F · 12 wet days
- Drier: Carmel, IN118 mi · high 50°F · 9 wet days
- Cooler: Traverse City, MI215 mi · high 41°F · 10 wet days
How South Bend ranks in March
- Normal high307th warmest of 378 cities; 6th of 6 in Indiana
- Wet days336th driest of 378
- Comfortable days250th most of 339
What to pack for South Bend in March
- A warm jacket – lows near 27°F, highs near 46°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 12 days
- Waterproof boots – about 6.8 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 21 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
March has 879 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 South Bend in March?
The normal high is 46°F and the normal low is 27°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest March reading was -4°F (March 3, 2014).
Does it rain a lot in South Bend in March?
About 12 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 (5.6 in); the driest was in 2015 (0.8 in).
Does it snow in South Bend in March?
Yes. Normal snowfall in March is 6.8 in, and snow covers the ground on about 5 days.
Is March a good time to visit South Bend?
March ranks 8th of 12 months on our comfort score for South Bend (44 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, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: South Bend Michiana Rgnl Airport (USW00014848), 3.8 mi WNW of the city center, 773 ft (81 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: South Bend Regional Airport (725350-14848), 3.8 mi WNW of the city center, 772 ft (80 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.