Dayton, OH weather in March
Expect chilly weather with frequent rain and some snow in Dayton in March, with highs near 51°F and lows near 31°F. Rain or snow falls on about 11 days. Snowfall averages about 3.9 in.
- Normal high
- 51°F
- Normal low
- 31°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 3.5 in total
- Snowfall
- 3.9 in
- snow on the ground 2 days
How March changes from start to finish
| March 1 | March 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 45°F | 57°F |
| Normal low | 26°F | 35°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 36% | 40% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:09 am / 6:28 pm | 7:22 am / 7:59 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 am35°Fdew point 30°F
- 9 am39°Fdew point 31°F
- Noon46°Fdew point 31°F
- 3 pm49°Fdew point 31°F
- 6 pm47°Fdew point 31°F
- 9 pm42°Fdew point 31°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Wright Patterson AFB (9 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 snow11 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in8 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below18 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more2 of 31
Average days per March, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in March
Normal precipitation is 3.5 in; a dry March brings about 2.7 in and a wet one about 4.3 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 3.9 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How March varies from year to year
- Warmest March, 1991-20202012: average high 67°F
- Coolest March2013: average high 45°F
- Wettest March2008: 6.9 in
- Driest March2001: 0.7 in
- Highest reading88°F (March 22, 2012)
- Lowest reading3°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 | 40°F | 51°F | 64°F |
| Normal low | 23°F | 31°F | 41°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 11 | 13 |
| Comfortable days | 1 | 5 | 13 |
| Daylight | 10.7 h | 12.0 h | 13.3 h |
Highs change by +11°F from February and +13°F into April.
Nearby alternatives in March
- Warmer: Lexington, KY119 mi · high 56°F · 13 wet days
- Drier: Warren, MI199 mi · high 45°F · 8 wet days
- Cooler: Dearborn, MI185 mi · high 45°F · 11 wet days
How Dayton ranks in March
- Normal high266th warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 6 in Ohio
- Wet days306th driest of 378
- Comfortable days219th most of 339
What to pack for Dayton in March
- A warm jacket – lows near 31°F, highs near 51°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 11 days
- Waterproof boots – about 3.9 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 18 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
March has 757 heating degree days and 2 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 11% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Dayton in March?
The normal high is 51°F and the normal low is 31°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest March reading was 3°F (March 6, 2015).
Does it rain a lot in Dayton in March?
About 11 days in March have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.5 in. The wettest March in 1991-2020 was in 2008 (6.9 in); the driest was in 2001 (0.7 in).
Does it snow in Dayton in March?
Yes. Normal snowfall in March is 3.9 in, and snow covers the ground on about 2 days.
Is March a good time to visit Dayton?
March ranks 8th of 12 months on our comfort score for Dayton (48 out of 100). It has about 5 comfortable days. The best months are April, May and October.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain and frost dates: Dayton Mcd (USC00332067), 0.3 mi N of the city center, 720 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: Dayton Intl Airport (USW00093815), 10 mi N of the city center, 1,000 ft (260 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Wright Patterson AFB (USW00013840), 9.1 mi NE of the city center, 823 ft (83 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: J.m.cox Dayton International Airport (724290-93815), 10 mi N of the city center, 993 ft (253 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.