New Bedford, MA weather in March
March in New Bedford: chilly, with frequent rain and some snow. Highs 47°F, lows 28°F, about 11 wet days and about 7.3 in of snow.
- Normal high
- 47°F
- Normal low
- 28°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 4.8 in total
- Snowfall
- 7.3 in
- snow on the ground 5 days
How March changes from start to finish
| March 1 | March 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 44°F | 52°F |
| Normal low | 24°F | 32°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 36% | 39% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:18 am / 5:33 pm | 6:28 am / 7:07 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 25°F
- 9 am38°Fdew point 26°F
- Noon44°Fdew point 27°F
- 3 pm43°Fdew point 26°F
- 6 pm39°Fdew point 26°F
- 9 pm36°Fdew point 26°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Plymouth Muni Airport (22 mi away); average wind 9 mph; clear or few clouds in 27% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 59%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F (temperature only: no humidity station nearby)1 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain (temperature and rain only)0 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°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 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 4.8 in; a dry March brings about 3.1 in and a wet one about 5.7 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 7.3 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How March varies from year to year
- Warmest March, 1991-20202012: average high 55°F
- Coolest March2015: average high 41°F
- Wettest March2010: 12.2 in
- Driest March2006: 0.6 in
- Highest reading78°F (March 31, 1998)
- Lowest reading-1°F (March 1, 2015)
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 | 47°F | 57°F |
| Normal low | 22°F | 28°F | 36°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 11 | 13 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Daylight | 10.6 h | 12.0 h | 13.3 h |
Highs change by +6°F from February and +10°F into April.
Nearby alternatives in March
- Warmer: Philadelphia, PA250 mi · high 53°F · 11 wet days
- Cooler: Kennebunkport, ME121 mi · high 41°F · 11 wet days
How New Bedford ranks in March
- Normal high296th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 9 in Massachusetts
- Wet days304th driest of 378
What to pack for New Bedford 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 7.3 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 21 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
March has 849 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 New Bedford in March?
The normal high is 47°F and the normal low is 28°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest March reading was -1°F (March 1, 2015).
Does it rain a lot in New Bedford in March?
About 11 days in March have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.8 in. The wettest March in 1991-2020 was in 2010 (12.2 in); the driest was in 2006 (0.6 in).
Does it snow in New Bedford in March?
Yes. Normal snowfall in March is 7.3 in, and snow covers the ground on about 5 days.
Is March a good time to visit New Bedford?
March ranks 8th of 12 months on our comfort score for New Bedford (44 out of 100). It has about 1 comfortable day (judged by temperature only). The best months are June and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain and frost dates: New Bedford Muni Airport (USW00094726), 3.0 mi NNW of the city center, 80 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: E Wareham (USC00192451), 16 mi ENE of the city center, 30 ft (69 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Plymouth Muni Airport (USW00054769), 22 mi NNE of the city center, 149 ft (50 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Boston Logan Intl Airport (USW00014739), 50 mi N of the city center, 12 ft (87 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: daily humidity and wind (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).