Salem, OR weather in March
Expect cool weather with rain on most days in Salem in March, with highs near 57°F and lows near 38°F. Rain falls on about 18 days. Pack rain gear.
- Normal high
- 57°F
- Normal low
- 38°F
- Wet days
- 18
- 4.3 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How March changes from start to finish
| March 1 | March 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 55°F | 59°F |
| Normal low | 37°F | 40°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 56% | 56% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:49 am / 5:59 pm | 6:54 am / 7:38 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 (Pacific Time).
A typical March day
- 6 am41°Fdew point 38°F
- 9 am46°Fdew point 40°F
- Noon52°Fdew point 40°F
- 3 pm55°Fdew point 40°F
- 6 pm52°Fdew point 40°F
- 9 pm46°Fdew point 39°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Salem Mcnary Fld (3 mi away); average wind 7 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F4 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 snow18 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in11 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below6 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more0 of 31
Average days per March, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in March
Normal precipitation is 4.3 in; a dry March brings about 2.9 in and a wet one about 5.2 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.1 in.
How March varies from year to year
- Warmest March, 1991-20201992: average high 63°F
- Coolest March2012: average high 52°F
- Wettest March2012: 10.0 in
- Driest March1992: 0.9 in
- Highest reading77°F (March 19, 2019)
- Lowest reading23°F (March 1, 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 | 52°F | 57°F | 62°F |
| Normal low | 36°F | 38°F | 41°F |
| Wet days | 16 | 18 | 16 |
| Comfortable days | 1 | 4 | 8 |
| Daylight | 10.4 h | 11.9 h | 13.5 h |
Highs change by +5°F from February and +5°F into April.
Nearby alternatives in March
- Drier: Bend, OR104 mi · high 52°F · 6 wet days
- Cooler: Bend, OR104 mi · high 52°F · 6 wet days
How Salem ranks in March
- Normal high208th warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 6 in Oregon
- Wet days365th driest of 378
- Comfortable days236th most of 339
What to pack for Salem in March
- A warm jacket – lows near 38°F, highs near 57°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 18 days
Heating and cooling
March has 541 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 11% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Salem in March?
The normal high is 57°F and the normal low is 38°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest March reading was 23°F (March 1, 2002).
Does it rain a lot in Salem in March?
About 18 days in March have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.4 in. The wettest March in 1991-2020 was in 2012 (10.0 in); the driest was in 1992 (0.9 in).
Does it snow in Salem in March?
Yes. Normal snowfall in March is 0.1 in.
Is March a good time to visit Salem?
March ranks 8th of 12 months on our comfort score for Salem (48 out of 100). It has about 4 comfortable days. The best month is June.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Salem Mcnary Fld (USW00024232), 3.1 mi SSE of the city center, 205 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall: Corvallis State Univ (USC00351862), 23 mi SSW of the city center, 225 ft (68 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snow depth: Silverton (USC00357823), 14 mi ENE of the city center, 408 ft (251 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Mcnary Field Airport (726940-24232), 3.1 mi SSE of the city center, 208 ft (51 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).