Pittsburgh, PA weather in March
Expect chilly weather with frequent rain and some snow in Pittsburgh in March, with highs near 49°F and lows near 30°F. Rain or snow falls on about 14 days. Snowfall averages about 7.6 in.
- Normal high
- 49°F
- Normal low
- 30°F
- Wet days
- 14
- 3.1 in total
- Snowfall
- 7.6 in
- snow on the ground 5 days
How March changes from start to finish
| March 1 | March 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 43°F | 56°F |
| Normal low | 26°F | 35°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 47% | 45% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:53 am / 6:11 pm | 7:05 am / 7:43 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 27°F
- 9 am38°Fdew point 28°F
- Noon44°Fdew point 29°F
- 3 pm47°Fdew point 28°F
- 6 pm45°Fdew point 28°F
- 9 pm41°Fdew point 28°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Pittsburgh Allegheny Co Airport (7 mi away); average wind 9 mph; clear or few clouds in 34% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 59%.
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 snow14 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in8 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below19 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more5 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. Normal snowfall is 7.6 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How March varies from year to year
- Warmest March, 1991-20202012: average high 63°F
- Coolest March2013: average high 43°F
- Wettest March2007: 5.3 in
- Driest March1999: 1.2 in
- Highest reading82°F (March 31, 1998)
- Lowest reading-5°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 | 49°F | 62°F |
| Normal low | 23°F | 30°F | 41°F |
| Wet days | 14 | 14 | 14 |
| Comfortable days | 1 | 5 | 12 |
| Daylight | 10.7 h | 12.0 h | 13.3 h |
Highs change by +9°F from February and +13°F into April.
Nearby alternatives in March
- Warmer: Charleston, WV169 mi · high 57°F · 15 wet days
- Drier: Gettysburg, PA152 mi · high 50°F · 10 wet days
- Cooler: Buffalo, NY179 mi · high 42°F · 15 wet days
How Pittsburgh ranks in March
- Normal high276th warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 4 in Pennsylvania
- Wet days350th driest of 378
- Comfortable days224th most of 339
What to pack for Pittsburgh in March
- A warm jacket – lows near 30°F, highs near 49°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 14 days
- Waterproof boots – about 7.6 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 19 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
March has 785 heating degree days and 1 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 12% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Pittsburgh in March?
The normal high is 49°F and the normal low is 30°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest March reading was -5°F (March 6, 2015).
Does it rain a lot in Pittsburgh in March?
About 14 days in March have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.2 in. The wettest March in 1991-2020 was in 2007 (5.3 in); the driest was in 1999 (1.2 in).
Does it snow in Pittsburgh in March?
Yes. Normal snowfall in March is 7.6 in, and snow covers the ground on about 5 days.
Is March a good time to visit Pittsburgh?
March ranks 8th of 12 months on our comfort score for Pittsburgh (47 out of 100). It has about 5 comfortable days. The best months are May and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and snow depth: Pittsburgh Intl Airport (USW00094823), 12 mi WNW of the city center, 1,203 ft (438 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates: Emsworth L/D Ohio Rvr (USC00362574), 6.6 mi NW of the city center, 717 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Pittsburgh Allegheny Co Airport (USW00014762), 7.1 mi SSE of the city center, 1,248 ft (483 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Pittsburgh International Airport (725200-94823), 12 mi WNW of the city center, 1,119 ft (354 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.