Columbus, OH weather in March
March in Columbus: chilly, with frequent rain and some snow. Highs 51°F, lows 32°F, about 13 days with rain or snow and about 4.1 in of snow.
- Normal high
- 51°F
- Normal low
- 32°F
- Wet days
- 13
- 3.6 in total
- Snowfall
- 4.1 in
- snow on the ground 3 days
How March changes from start to finish
| March 1 | March 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 45°F | 58°F |
| Normal low | 28°F | 37°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 41% | 42% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:05 am / 6:23 pm | 7:17 am / 7:54 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 (Eastern Time).
A typical March day
- 6 am36°Fdew point 29°F
- 9 am39°Fdew point 30°F
- Noon45°Fdew point 30°F
- 3 pm49°Fdew point 31°F
- 6 pm47°Fdew point 30°F
- 9 pm43°Fdew point 30°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Columbus Port Columbus Intl Airport (7 mi away); average wind 9 mph; clear or few clouds in 28% 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°F5 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 snow13 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in8 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below17 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more3 of 31
Average days per March, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in March
Normal precipitation is 3.6 in; a dry March brings about 2.6 in and a wet one about 4.2 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 4.1 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How March varies from year to year
- Warmest March, 1991-20202012: average high 64°F
- Coolest March2013: average high 45°F
- Wettest March2020: 8.2 in
- Driest March2001: 1.0 in
- Highest reading85°F (March 22, 2012)
- Lowest reading4°F (March 6, 2015)
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 | 41°F | 51°F | 64°F |
| Normal low | 24°F | 32°F | 42°F |
| Wet days | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| Comfortable days | 1 | 5 | 13 |
| Daylight | 10.7 h | 12.0 h | 13.3 h |
Highs change by +10°F from February and +13°F into April.
Nearby alternatives in March
- Warmer: Huntington, WV111 mi · high 57°F · 14 wet days
- Drier: Carmel, IN165 mi · high 50°F · 9 wet days
- Cooler: Dearborn, MI163 mi · high 45°F · 11 wet days
How Columbus ranks in March
- Normal high262nd warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 6 in Ohio
- Wet days340th driest of 378
- Comfortable days222nd most of 339
What to pack for Columbus in March
- A warm jacket – lows near 32°F, highs near 51°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 13 days
- Waterproof boots – about 4.1 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 17 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
March has 729 heating degree days and 2 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 12% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Columbus in March?
The normal high is 51°F and the normal low is 32°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest March reading was 4°F (most recently on March 6, 2015).
Does it rain a lot in Columbus in March?
About 13 days in March have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.6 in. The wettest March in 1991-2020 was in 2020 (8.2 in); the driest was in 2001 (1.0 in).
Does it snow in Columbus in March?
Yes. Normal snowfall in March is 4.1 in, and snow covers the ground on about 3 days.
Is March a good time to visit Columbus?
March ranks 8th of 12 months on our comfort score for Columbus (48 out of 100). It has about 5 comfortable days. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Columbus Port Columbus Intl Airport (USW00014821), 6.6 mi ENE of the city center, 810 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Wright Patterson AFB (USW00013840), 56 mi W of the city center, 823 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Port Columbus International Airport (724280-14821), 6.8 mi ENE of the city center, 810 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.