Richmond, VA weather in March
Richmond is cool in March, with frequent rain: highs average 60°F and nights drop to about 37°F. Rain or snow falls on about 11 days. Snowfall averages about 1.1 in.
- Normal high
- 60°F
- Normal low
- 37°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 4.0 in total
- Snowfall
- 1.1 in
- snow on the ground 1 day
How March changes from start to finish
| March 1 | March 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 55°F | 65°F |
| Normal low | 33°F | 42°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 33% | 35% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:41 am / 6:03 pm | 6:56 am / 7:31 pm |
| Daylight | 11.4 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 am41°Fdew point 33°F
- 9 am47°Fdew point 34°F
- Noon54°Fdew point 34°F
- 3 pm58°Fdew point 33°F
- 6 pm55°Fdew point 34°F
- 9 pm48°Fdew point 35°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Richmond Intl Airport (8 mi away); average wind 9 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F10 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 snow11 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below10 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more1 of 31
Average days per March, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in March
Normal precipitation is 4.0 in; a dry March brings about 2.8 in and a wet one about 5.3 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 1.1 in.
How March varies from year to year
- Warmest March, 1991-20202012: average high 70°F
- Coolest March2013: average high 54°F
- Wettest March1994: 7.9 in
- Driest March2006: 0.2 in
- Highest reading88°F (March 29, 2020)
- Lowest reading10°F (March 4, 2009)
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 | 60°F | 70°F |
| Normal low | 30°F | 37°F | 46°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 11 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 4 | 10 | 15 |
| Daylight | 10.8 h | 12.0 h | 13.2 h |
Highs change by +8°F from February and +10°F into April.
Nearby alternatives in March
- Warmer: Fayetteville, NC190 mi · high 65°F · 10 wet days
- Cooler: Frederick, MD129 mi · high 52°F · 10 wet days
How Richmond ranks in March
- Normal high193rd warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 5 in Virginia
- Wet days270th driest of 378
- Comfortable days164th most of 339
What to pack for Richmond in March
- A warm jacket – lows near 37°F, highs near 60°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 11 days
Heating and cooling
March has 519 heating degree days and 5 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 10% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Richmond in March?
The normal high is 60°F and the normal low is 37°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest March reading was 10°F (March 4, 2009).
Does it rain a lot in Richmond in March?
About 11 days in March have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.0 in. The wettest March in 1991-2020 was in 1994 (7.9 in); the driest was in 2006 (0.2 in).
Does it snow in Richmond in March?
Yes. Normal snowfall in March is 1.1 in, and snow covers the ground on about 1 day.
Is March a good time to visit Richmond?
March ranks 4th of 12 months on our comfort score for Richmond (59 out of 100). It has about 10 comfortable days. The best months are April, May and October.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Richmond Intl Airport (USW00013740), 8.4 mi ESE of the city center, 164 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Richmond International Airport (724010-13740), 8.1 mi ESE of the city center, 166 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).