Grand Rapids, MI weather in March
In March, Grand Rapids sees highs around 45°F and lows around 27°F: chilly, with frequent rain and some snow. Rain or snow falls on about 12 days. Snowfall averages about 7.6 in.
- Normal high
- 45°F
- Normal low
- 27°F
- Wet days
- 12
- 2.4 in total
- Snowfall
- 7.6 in
- snow on the ground 8 days
How March changes from start to finish
| March 1 | March 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 38°F | 51°F |
| Normal low | 23°F | 32°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 41% | 40% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:18 am / 6:31 pm | 7:26 am / 8:07 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 am30°Fdew point 24°F
- 9 am33°Fdew point 25°F
- Noon39°Fdew point 26°F
- 3 pm42°Fdew point 26°F
- 6 pm40°Fdew point 26°F
- 9 pm36°Fdew point 26°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Grand Rapids (8 mi away); average wind 10 mph; clear or few clouds in 30% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 62%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F2 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 below23 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more8 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 1.3 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 7.6 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How March varies from year to year
- Warmest March, 1991-20202012: average high 61°F
- Coolest March2014: average high 36°F
- Wettest March2016: 4.9 in
- Driest March2001: 0.5 in
- Highest reading87°F (March 21, 2012)
- Lowest reading-8°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 | 34°F | 45°F | 58°F |
| Normal low | 20°F | 27°F | 37°F |
| Wet days | 13 | 12 | 13 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| Daylight | 10.6 h | 11.9 h | 13.4 h |
Highs change by +11°F from February and +13°F into April.
Nearby alternatives in March
- Warmer: Carmel, IN208 mi · high 50°F · 9 wet days
- Drier: Warren, MI139 mi · high 45°F · 8 wet days
- Cooler: Sister Bay, WI170 mi · high 36°F · 8 wet days
How Grand Rapids ranks in March
- Normal high327th warmest of 378 cities; 5th of 8 in Michigan
- Wet days322nd driest of 378
- Comfortable days282nd most of 339
What to pack for Grand Rapids in March
- A warm jacket – lows near 27°F, highs near 45°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 12 days
- Waterproof boots – about 7.6 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 23 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
March has 910 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 Grand Rapids in March?
The normal high is 45°F and the normal low is 27°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest March reading was -8°F (March 3, 2014).
Does it rain a lot in Grand Rapids 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 2016 (4.9 in); the driest was in 2001 (0.5 in).
Does it snow in Grand Rapids in March?
Yes. Normal snowfall in March is 7.6 in, and snow covers the ground on about 8 days.
Is March a good time to visit Grand Rapids?
March ranks 8th of 12 months on our comfort score for Grand Rapids (41 out of 100). It has about 2 comfortable days. The best months are May, June and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Grand Rapids (USW00094860), 7.9 mi SE of the city center, 778 ft (138 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Lansing Capital City Airport (USW00014836), 57 mi ESE of the city center, 841 ft (201 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Gerald R Ford International Airport (726350-94860), 9.2 mi SE of the city center, 788 ft (148 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.