Portland, ME weather in March
In March, Portland sees highs around 42°F and lows around 26°F: chilly and snowy. Expect about 11 wet days. Snowfall averages about 13.6 in. Pack for snow.
- Normal high
- 42°F
- Normal low
- 26°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 4.1 in total
- Snowfall
- 13.6 in
- snow on the ground 16 days
How March changes from start to finish
| March 1 | March 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 38°F | 47°F |
| Normal low | 21°F | 30°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 37% | 37% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:17 am / 5:29 pm | 6:24 am / 7:06 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 (Eastern Time).
A typical March day
- 6 am28°Fdew point 20°F
- 9 am34°Fdew point 21°F
- Noon38°Fdew point 22°F
- 3 pm40°Fdew point 23°F
- 6 pm37°Fdew point 23°F
- 9 pm34°Fdew point 23°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Portland Intl Jetport (2 mi away); average wind 9 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F1 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph0 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 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below25 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more16 of 31
Average days per March, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in March
Normal precipitation is 4.1 in; a dry March brings about 2.7 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 13.6 in, with about 3 days of an inch or more.
How March varies from year to year
- Warmest March, 1991-20202012: average high 51°F
- Coolest March2014: average high 36°F
- Wettest March2010: 11.2 in
- Driest March2006: 1.0 in
- Highest reading88°F (March 31, 1998)
- Lowest reading-6°F (March 7, 2007)
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 | 42°F | 54°F |
| Normal low | 17°F | 26°F | 35°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 11 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Daylight | 10.5 h | 11.9 h | 13.4 h |
Highs change by +7°F from February and +12°F into April.
Nearby alternatives in March
- Warmer: Brockton, MA116 mi · high 48°F · 12 wet days
- Cooler: Lake Placid, NY190 mi · high 36°F · 13 wet days
How Portland ranks in March
- Normal high345th warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 5 in Maine
- Wet days301st driest of 378
- Comfortable days315th most of 339
What to pack for Portland in March
- A warm jacket – lows near 26°F, highs near 42°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 11 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 16 days
- A hat and gloves – about 25 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
March has 956 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 13% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Portland in March?
The normal high is 42°F and the normal low is 26°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest March reading was -6°F (March 7, 2007).
Does it rain a lot in Portland in March?
About 11 days in March have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.1 in. The wettest March in 1991-2020 was in 2010 (11.2 in); the driest was in 2006 (1.0 in).
Does it snow in Portland in March?
Yes. Normal snowfall in March is 13.6 in, and snow covers the ground on about 16 days.
Is March a good time to visit Portland?
March ranks 9th of 12 months on our comfort score for Portland (38 out of 100). It has about 1 comfortable day. The best months are June and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Portland Intl Jetport (USW00014764), 2.4 mi WSW of the city center, 45 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Portland International Jetport Airport (726060-14764), 2.8 mi WSW of the city center, 44 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).