Rochester, MN weather in March
Rochester is cold in March, with frequent rain and some snow: highs average 40°F and nights drop to about 23°F. Rain or snow falls on about 10 days. Snowfall averages about 8.6 in.
- Normal high
- 40°F
- Normal low
- 23°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 2.0 in total
- Snowfall
- 8.6 in
- snow on the ground 14 days
How March changes from start to finish
| March 1 | March 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 32°F | 48°F |
| Normal low | 17°F | 30°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 30% | 36% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:46 am / 5:57 pm | 6:52 am / 7:35 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 (Central Time).
A typical March day
- 6 am26°Fdew point 22°F
- 9 am30°Fdew point 23°F
- Noon36°Fdew point 25°F
- 3 pm38°Fdew point 26°F
- 6 pm35°Fdew point 26°F
- 9 pm32°Fdew point 25°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Rochester Intl Airport (8 mi away); average wind 13 mph; clear or few clouds in 54% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 41%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F1 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 below24 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more14 of 31
Average days per March, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in March
Normal precipitation is 2.0 in; a dry March brings about 1.2 in and a wet one about 2.9 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 8.6 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How March varies from year to year
- Warmest March, 1991-20202012: average high 59°F
- Coolest March2001: average high 31°F
- Wettest March2016: 4.0 in
- Driest March1994: 0.3 in
- Highest reading81°F (March 17, 2012)
- Lowest reading-17°F (March 4, 2019)
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 | 27°F | 40°F | 55°F |
| Normal low | 11°F | 23°F | 35°F |
| Wet days | 8 | 10 | 12 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| Daylight | 10.5 h | 11.9 h | 13.5 h |
Highs change by +13°F from February and +15°F into April.
Nearby alternatives in March
- Warmer: Cedar Rapids, IA145 mi · high 49°F · 10 wet days
- Drier: Duluth, MN192 mi · high 36°F · 7 wet days
How Rochester ranks in March
- Normal high363rd warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 3 in Minnesota
- Wet days237th driest of 378
- Comfortable days303rd most of 339
What to pack for Rochester in March
- A warm jacket – lows near 23°F, highs near 40°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 10 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 14 days
- A hat and gloves – about 24 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
March has 1034 heating degree days and 1 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 12% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Rochester in March?
The normal high is 40°F and the normal low is 23°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest March reading was -17°F (most recently on March 4, 2019).
Does it rain a lot in Rochester in March?
About 10 days in March have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.0 in. The wettest March in 1991-2020 was in 2016 (4.0 in); the driest was in 1994 (0.3 in).
Does it snow in Rochester in March?
Yes. Normal snowfall in March is 8.6 in, and snow covers the ground on about 14 days.
Is March a good time to visit Rochester?
March ranks 8th of 12 months on our comfort score for Rochester (38 out of 100). It has about 1 comfortable day. The best months are May, June and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Rochester Intl Airport (USW00014925), 8.2 mi S of the city center, 1,304 ft (280 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Rochester International Airport (726440-14925), 8.2 mi S of the city center, 1,305 ft (281 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.