Keystone, SD weather in March
Expect chilly, snowy weather in Keystone in March, with highs near 44°F and lows near 19°F. Rain or snow falls on about 8 days. Snowfall averages about 10.5 in. Pack for snow.
- Normal high
- 44°F
- Normal low
- 19°F
- Wet days
- 8
- 1.1 in total
- Snowfall
- 10.5 in
- snow on the ground 11 days
How March changes from start to finish
| March 1 | March 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 39°F | 48°F |
| Normal low | 14°F | 23°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 23% | 29% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:30 am / 5:41 pm | 6:36 am / 7:18 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 (Mountain Time).
A typical March day
- 6 am26°Fdew point 17°F
- 9 am35°Fdew point 19°F
- Noon41°Fdew point 18°F
- 3 pm41°Fdew point 19°F
- 6 pm36°Fdew point 19°F
- 9 pm30°Fdew point 19°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Custer Co Airport (15 mi away); average wind 7 mph; clear or few clouds in 43% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 47%.
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 snow8 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in3 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below30 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more11 of 31
Average days per March, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in March
Normal precipitation is 1.1 in; a dry March brings about 0.6 in and a wet one about 1.4 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 10.5 in, with about 3 days of an inch or more.
How March varies from year to year
- Warmest March, 1991-20202012: average high 57°F
- Coolest March2002: average high 31°F
- Wettest March1992: 2.2 in
- Driest March2015: 0.09 in
- Highest reading74°F (March 29, 2015)
- Lowest reading-22°F (March 8, 1996)
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 | 36°F | 44°F | 51°F |
| Normal low | 11°F | 19°F | 26°F |
| Wet days | 7 | 8 | 10 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| Daylight | 10.5 h | 11.9 h | 13.5 h |
Highs change by +8°F from February and +7°F into April.
Nearby alternatives in March
- Warmer: Casper, WY162 mi · high 49°F · 8 wet days
How Keystone ranks in March
- Normal high331st warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 4 in South Dakota
- Wet days117th driest of 378
- Comfortable days287th most of 339
What to pack for Keystone in March
- A warm jacket – lows near 19°F, highs near 44°F
- Layers – afternoons near 44°F but nights near 19°F
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 11 days
- A hat and gloves – about 30 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
March has 1045 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 12% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Keystone in March?
The normal high is 44°F and the normal low is 19°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest March reading was -22°F (March 8, 1996).
Does it rain a lot in Keystone in March?
About 8 days in March have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.1 in. The wettest March in 1991-2020 was in 1992 (2.2 in); the driest was in 2015 (0.09 in).
Does it snow in Keystone in March?
Yes. Normal snowfall in March is 10.5 in, and snow covers the ground on about 11 days.
Is March a good time to visit Keystone?
March ranks 8th of 12 months on our comfort score for Keystone (44 out of 100). It has about 2 comfortable days. The best month is June.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Pactola Dam (USC00396427), 12 mi NNW of the city center, 4,720 ft (385 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Custer Co Airport (USW00094032), 15 mi SW of the city center, 5,545 ft (1,210 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Ellsworth AFB (USW00024006), 24 mi NE of the city center, 3,215 ft (1,120 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Rapid City Regional Airport (726620-24090), 21 mi ENE of the city center, 3,162 ft (1,173 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.