Columbia, SC weather in March
March in Columbia: mild, with some rain. Highs 72°F, lows 46°F, rain on about 9 days. A good month for most outdoor plans.
- Normal high
- 72°F
- Normal low
- 46°F
- Wet days
- 9
- 3.6 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How March changes from start to finish
| March 1 | March 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 68°F | 76°F |
| Normal low | 42°F | 50°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 30% | 28% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:52 am / 6:20 pm | 7:12 am / 7:43 pm |
| Daylight | 11.5 h | 12.5 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 am47°Fdew point 41°F
- 9 am54°Fdew point 42°F
- Noon63°Fdew point 40°F
- 3 pm66°Fdew point 40°F
- 6 pm65°Fdew point 40°F
- 9 pm56°Fdew point 42°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Columbia (6 mi away); average wind 7 mph; clear or few clouds in 39% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 44%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F17 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 snow9 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below3 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 3.6 in; a dry March brings about 2.4 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 0.1 in.
How March varies from year to year
- Warmest March, 1991-20202012: average high 80°F
- Coolest March1995: average high 64°F
- Wettest March1991: 7.6 in
- Driest March2004: 0.9 in
- Highest reading92°F (March 25, 2007)
- Lowest reading15°F (March 9, 1995)
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 | 64°F | 72°F | 81°F |
| Normal low | 40°F | 46°F | 54°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 9 | 8 |
| Comfortable days | 13 | 17 | 12 |
| Daylight | 11.0 h | 12.0 h | 13.1 h |
Highs change by +8°F from February and +9°F into April.
Nearby alternatives in March
- Cooler: Charlotte, NC85 mi · high 64°F · 10 wet days
How Columbia ranks in March
- Normal high72nd warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 5 in South Carolina
- Wet days186th driest of 378
- Comfortable days49th most of 339
What to pack for Columbia in March
- Layers – afternoons near 72°F but nights near 46°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 9 days
Frost in March
The last spring frost typically comes around Mar 16; in 1 year in 10 it comes after Apr 3. All frost dates for Columbia.
Heating and cooling
March has 230 heating degree days and 38 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 6% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is Columbia in March?
The normal high is 72°F and the normal low is 46°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest March reading was 92°F (March 25, 2007).
Does it rain a lot in Columbia in March?
About 9 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 1991 (7.6 in); the driest was in 2004 (0.9 in).
Does it snow in Columbia in March?
Yes. Normal snowfall in March is 0.1 in.
Is March a good time to visit Columbia?
March ranks 1st of 12 months on our comfort score for Columbia (69 out of 100). It has about 17 comfortable days. The best months are March and November.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature and frost dates: Columbia Univ Of Sc (USC00381944), 0.9 mi SE of the city center, 223 ft (76 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Rain, snowfall, snow depth, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Columbia (USW00013883), 6.0 mi SW of the city center, 231 ft (68 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Columbia Metropolitan Airport (723100-13883), 6.3 mi SW of the city center, 224 ft (75 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.