Cedar Rapids, IA weather in March
Cedar Rapids is chilly in March, with some rain and some snow: highs average 49°F and nights drop to about 28°F. Expect about 10 wet days. Snowfall averages about 4.0 in.
- Normal high
- 49°F
- Normal low
- 28°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 2.1 in total
- Snowfall
- 4.0 in
- snow on the ground 6 days
How March changes from start to finish
| March 1 | March 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 41°F | 57°F |
| Normal low | 22°F | 33°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 29% | 34% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:41 am / 5:56 pm | 6:50 am / 7:30 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 am30°Fdew point 26°F
- 9 am35°Fdew point 28°F
- Noon42°Fdew point 28°F
- 3 pm45°Fdew point 29°F
- 6 pm41°Fdew point 29°F
- 9 pm36°Fdew point 28°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Cedar Rapids Muni Airport (9 mi away); average wind 12 mph; clear or few clouds in 55% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 40%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F4 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 below20 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more6 of 31
Average days per March, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in March
Normal precipitation is 2.1 in; a dry March brings about 0.9 in and a wet one about 3.0 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 4.0 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 39°F
- Wettest March1998: 5.3 in
- Driest March1994: 0.4 in
- Highest reading83°F (March 17, 2012)
- Lowest reading-13°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 | 49°F | 63°F |
| Normal low | 17°F | 28°F | 38°F |
| Wet days | 8 | 10 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 4 | 12 |
| Daylight | 10.6 h | 11.9 h | 13.4 h |
Highs change by +14°F from February and +14°F into April.
Nearby alternatives in March
- Warmer: Columbia, MO214 mi · high 56°F · 11 wet days
- Cooler: Madison, WI136 mi · high 44°F · 11 wet days
How Cedar Rapids ranks in March
- Normal high279th warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 3 in Iowa
- Wet days209th driest of 378
- Comfortable days238th most of 339
What to pack for Cedar Rapids in March
- A warm jacket – lows near 28°F, highs near 49°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 10 days
- Waterproof boots – about 4.0 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 20 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
March has 833 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 Cedar Rapids in March?
The normal high is 49°F and the normal low is 28°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest March reading was -13°F (March 3, 2014).
Does it rain a lot in Cedar Rapids in March?
About 10 days in March have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.1 in. The wettest March in 1991-2020 was in 1998 (5.3 in); the driest was in 1994 (0.4 in).
Does it snow in Cedar Rapids in March?
Yes. Normal snowfall in March is 4.0 in, and snow covers the ground on about 6 days.
Is March a good time to visit Cedar Rapids?
March ranks 8th of 12 months on our comfort score for Cedar Rapids (48 out of 100). It has about 4 comfortable days. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Cedar Rapids #1 (USC00131319), 4.0 mi NE of the city center, 813 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Cedar Rapids Muni Airport (USW00014990), 9.4 mi SSW of the city center, 868 ft (60 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Eastern Iowa Regional Airport (725450-14990), 9.6 mi SSW of the city center, 840 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.