Columbia, MO weather in March
March in Columbia: cool, with frequent rain. Highs 56°F, lows 36°F, about 11 days with rain or snow and about 1.5 in of snow.
- Normal high
- 56°F
- Normal low
- 36°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 3.0 in total
- Snowfall
- 1.5 in
- snow on the ground 1 day
How March changes from start to finish
| March 1 | March 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 50°F | 62°F |
| Normal low | 31°F | 41°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 33% | 37% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:41 am / 6:01 pm | 6:55 am / 7:31 pm |
| Daylight | 11.3 h | 12.6 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 am38°Fdew point 32°F
- 9 am43°Fdew point 33°F
- Noon50°Fdew point 34°F
- 3 pm53°Fdew point 34°F
- 6 pm50°Fdew point 34°F
- 9 pm45°Fdew point 33°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Columbia Rgnl Airport (11 mi away); average wind 11 mph; clear or few clouds in 51% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 44%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F8 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 below13 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more1 of 31
Average days per March, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in March
Normal precipitation is 3.0 in; a dry March brings about 1.9 in and a wet one about 3.8 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 1.5 in.
How March varies from year to year
- Warmest March, 1991-20202012: average high 71°F
- Coolest March2013: average high 48°F
- Wettest March2004: 7.3 in
- Driest March2005: 0.9 in
- Highest reading85°F (March 14, 2012)
- Lowest reading-4°F (March 4, 2002)
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 | 45°F | 56°F | 67°F |
| Normal low | 26°F | 36°F | 46°F |
| Wet days | 8 | 11 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 3 | 8 | 13 |
| Daylight | 10.8 h | 12.0 h | 13.2 h |
Highs change by +11°F from February and +11°F into April.
Nearby alternatives in March
- Warmer: Branson, MO167 mi · high 62°F · 9 wet days
- Drier: Lee's Summit, MO110 mi · high 55°F · 7 wet days
- Cooler: Peoria, IL189 mi · high 51°F · 11 wet days
How Columbia ranks in March
- Normal high222nd warmest of 378 cities; 5th of 7 in Missouri
- Wet days275th driest of 378
- Comfortable days189th most of 339
What to pack for Columbia in March
- A warm jacket – lows near 36°F, highs near 56°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 11 days
Heating and cooling
March has 596 heating degree days and 5 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 10% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Columbia in March?
The normal high is 56°F and the normal low is 36°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest March reading was -4°F (March 4, 2002).
Does it rain a lot in Columbia in March?
About 11 days in March have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.0 in. The wettest March in 1991-2020 was in 2004 (7.3 in); the driest was in 2005 (0.9 in).
Does it snow in Columbia in March?
Yes. Normal snowfall in March is 1.5 in, and snow covers the ground on about 1 day.
Is March a good time to visit Columbia?
March ranks 6th of 12 months on our comfort score for Columbia (55 out of 100). It has about 8 comfortable days. The best months are April and May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Columbia Rgnl Airport (USW00003945), 11 mi SE of the city center, 893 ft (186 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates: Columbia U Of M (USC00231801), 1.0 mi SE of the city center, 770 ft (63 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Columbia Regional Airport (724450-03945), 11 mi SE of the city center, 893 ft (186 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.