Detroit, MI weather in March
Detroit is chilly in March, with frequent rain and some snow: highs average 45°F and nights drop to about 28°F. Rain or snow falls on about 11 days. Snowfall averages about 6.2 in.
- Normal high
- 45°F
- Normal low
- 28°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 2.4 in total
- Snowfall
- 6.2 in
- snow on the ground 6 days
How March changes from start to finish
| March 1 | March 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 39°F | 51°F |
| Normal low | 24°F | 33°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 38% | 38% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:07 am / 6:21 pm | 7:16 am / 7:56 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 am33°Fdew point 26°F
- 9 am36°Fdew point 26°F
- Noon41°Fdew point 26°F
- 3 pm43°Fdew point 27°F
- 6 pm42°Fdew point 26°F
- 9 pm38°Fdew point 27°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Detroit City Airport (6 mi away); average wind 10 mph; clear or few clouds in 42% 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°F2 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 in6 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 2.4 in; a dry March brings about 1.5 in and a wet one about 3.3 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 6.2 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How March varies from year to year
- Warmest March, 1991-20202012: average high 60°F
- Coolest March1996: average high 40°F
- Wettest March2016: 4.9 in
- Driest March2005: 0.7 in
- Highest reading83°F (March 22, 2012)
- Lowest reading-3°F (March 3, 2003)
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 | 45°F | 58°F |
| Normal low | 21°F | 28°F | 39°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 11 | 13 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| Daylight | 10.6 h | 11.9 h | 13.4 h |
Highs change by +10°F from February and +13°F into April.
Nearby alternatives in March
- Warmer: Columbus, OH164 mi · high 51°F · 13 wet days
How Detroit ranks in March
- Normal high322nd warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 8 in Michigan
- Wet days289th driest of 378
- Comfortable days270th most of 339
What to pack for Detroit in March
- A warm jacket – lows near 28°F, highs near 45°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 11 days
- Waterproof boots – about 6.2 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 20 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
March has 880 heating degree days and 1 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 13% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Detroit in March?
The normal high is 45°F and the normal low is 28°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest March reading was -3°F (March 3, 2003).
Does it rain a lot in Detroit in March?
About 11 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 2016 (4.9 in); the driest was in 2005 (0.7 in).
Does it snow in Detroit in March?
Yes. Normal snowfall in March is 6.2 in, and snow covers the ground on about 6 days.
Is March a good time to visit Detroit?
March ranks 8th of 12 months on our comfort score for Detroit (43 out of 100). It has about 2 comfortable days. The best months are May, June and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Detroit City Airport (USW00014822), 5.7 mi NNE of the city center, 626 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Rain, snowfall and snow depth: Detroit Metro Airport (USW00094847), 16 mi WSW of the city center, 631 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Flint Bishop Intl Airport (USW00014826), 57 mi NW of the city center, 770 ft (172 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Detroit City Airport (725375-14822), 5.5 mi NNE of the city center, 623 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.