Albany, NY weather in March
March in Albany: chilly and snowy. Highs 45°F, lows 26°F, rain or snow on about 12 days and about 12.0 in of snow. Expect snow on the ground at times.
- Normal high
- 45°F
- Normal low
- 26°F
- Wet days
- 12
- 3.1 in total
- Snowfall
- 12.0 in
- snow on the ground 10 days
How March changes from start to finish
| March 1 | March 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 40°F | 52°F |
| Normal low | 22°F | 31°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 38% | 39% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:30 am / 5:44 pm | 6:38 am / 7:19 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 am29°Fdew point 22°F
- 9 am34°Fdew point 23°F
- Noon39°Fdew point 23°F
- 3 pm42°Fdew point 23°F
- 6 pm40°Fdew point 23°F
- 9 pm35°Fdew point 23°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Albany Airport (7 mi away); average wind 9 mph.
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 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below24 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more10 of 31
Average days per March, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in March
Normal precipitation is 3.1 in; a dry March brings about 2.2 in and a wet one about 4.0 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 12.0 in, with about 3 days of an inch or more.
How March varies from year to year
- Warmest March, 1991-20202012: average high 56°F
- Coolest March2014: average high 37°F
- Wettest March2008: 6.2 in
- Driest March2016: 1.2 in
- Highest reading89°F (March 31, 1998)
- Lowest reading-6°F (March 19, 1993)
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 | 36°F | 45°F | 59°F |
| Normal low | 18°F | 26°F | 37°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 12 | 12 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| Daylight | 10.6 h | 11.9 h | 13.4 h |
Highs change by +9°F from February and +14°F into April.
Nearby alternatives in March
- Warmer: Paterson, NJ122 mi · high 51°F · 11 wet days
- Cooler: Lake Placid, NY113 mi · high 36°F · 13 wet days
How Albany ranks in March
- Normal high317th warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 10 in New York
- Wet days323rd driest of 378
- Comfortable days290th most of 339
What to pack for Albany in March
- A warm jacket – lows near 26°F, highs near 45°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 12 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 10 days
- A hat and gloves – about 24 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
March has 909 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 Albany in March?
The normal high is 45°F and the normal low is 26°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest March reading was -6°F (March 19, 1993).
Does it rain a lot in Albany in March?
About 12 days in March have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.1 in. The wettest March in 1991-2020 was in 2008 (6.2 in); the driest was in 2016 (1.2 in).
Does it snow in Albany in March?
Yes. Normal snowfall in March is 12.0 in, and snow covers the ground on about 10 days.
Is March a good time to visit Albany?
March ranks 8th of 12 months on our comfort score for Albany (41 out of 100). It has about 2 comfortable days. The best months are May and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Albany Airport (USW00014735), 6.8 mi NNW of the city center, 312 ft (169 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Albany International Airport (725180-14735), 6.9 mi NNW of the city center, 280 ft (137 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).