Providence, RI weather in March
March in Providence: chilly, with frequent rain and some snow. Highs 48°F, lows 30°F, about 12 days with rain or snow and about 6.4 in of snow.
- Normal high
- 48°F
- Normal low
- 30°F
- Wet days
- 12
- 4.9 in total
- Snowfall
- 6.4 in
- snow on the ground 4 days
How March changes from start to finish
| March 1 | March 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 44°F | 53°F |
| Normal low | 26°F | 34°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 38% | 38% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:20 am / 5:35 pm | 6:29 am / 7:09 pm |
| Daylight | 11.3 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 am33°Fdew point 25°F
- 9 am39°Fdew point 25°F
- Noon44°Fdew point 25°F
- 3 pm45°Fdew point 25°F
- 6 pm41°Fdew point 25°F
- 9 pm38°Fdew point 26°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Providence T F Green Airport (7 mi away); average wind 11 mph; clear or few clouds in 27% 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°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 below19 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more4 of 31
Average days per March, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in March
Normal precipitation is 4.9 in; a dry March brings about 3.0 in and a wet one about 6.3 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 6.4 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How March varies from year to year
- Warmest March, 1991-20202012: average high 56°F
- Coolest March2015: average high 42°F
- Wettest March2010: 16.3 in
- Driest March2006: 0.6 in
- Highest reading85°F (March 31, 1998)
- Lowest reading6°F (March 1, 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 | 48°F | 59°F |
| Normal low | 24°F | 30°F | 40°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 12 | 12 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| Daylight | 10.6 h | 12.0 h | 13.4 h |
Highs change by +7°F from February and +11°F into April.
Nearby alternatives in March
- Warmer: Philadelphia, PA235 mi · high 53°F · 11 wet days
- Cooler: Kennebunkport, ME116 mi · high 41°F · 11 wet days
How Providence ranks in March
- Normal high291st warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 2 in Rhode Island
- Wet days318th driest of 378
- Comfortable days293rd most of 339
What to pack for Providence in March
- A warm jacket – lows near 30°F, highs near 48°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 12 days
- Waterproof boots – about 6.4 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 19 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
March has 808 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 Providence in March?
The normal high is 48°F and the normal low is 30°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest March reading was 6°F (March 1, 2015).
Does it rain a lot in Providence in March?
About 12 days in March have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.9 in. The wettest March in 1991-2020 was in 2010 (16.3 in); the driest was in 2006 (0.6 in).
Does it snow in Providence in March?
Yes. Normal snowfall in March is 6.4 in, and snow covers the ground on about 4 days.
Is March a good time to visit Providence?
March ranks 8th of 12 months on our comfort score for Providence (44 out of 100). It has about 2 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: Providence T F Green Airport (USW00014765), 7.1 mi S of the city center, 60 ft (51 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Boston Logan Intl Airport (USW00014739), 42 mi NNE of the city center, 12 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Theodore F Green State Airport (725070-14765), 7.0 mi S of the city center, 51 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.