Tacoma, WA weather in March
Tacoma is cool in March, with rain on most days: highs average 55°F and nights drop to about 40°F. There are about 18 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 0.6 in. Keep rain gear handy.
- Normal high
- 55°F
- Normal low
- 40°F
- Wet days
- 18
- 4.4 in total
- Snowfall
- 0.6 in
- normal snowfall
How March changes from start to finish
| March 1 | March 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 52°F | 57°F |
| Normal low | 38°F | 42°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 57% | 55% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:49 am / 5:54 pm | 6:50 am / 7:37 pm |
| Daylight | 11.1 h | 12.8 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Pacific Time).
A typical March day
- 6 am38°Fdew point 36°F
- 9 am44°Fdew point 39°F
- Noon50°Fdew point 39°F
- 3 pm52°Fdew point 39°F
- 6 pm49°Fdew point 38°F
- 9 pm44°Fdew point 39°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Tacoma Mcchord AFB (7 mi away); average wind 7 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F2 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph0 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 snow18 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in12 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below2 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 4.4 in; a dry March brings about 3.2 in and a wet one about 5.1 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.6 in.
How March varies from year to year
- Warmest March, 1991-20202005: average high 59°F
- Coolest March2002: average high 51°F
- Wettest March2014: 8.8 in
- Driest March1992: 1.3 in
- Highest reading77°F (March 29, 2004)
- Lowest reading26°F (March 6, 2019)
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 | 50°F | 55°F | 60°F |
| Normal low | 37°F | 40°F | 44°F |
| Wet days | 16 | 18 | 15 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| Daylight | 10.3 h | 11.9 h | 13.6 h |
Highs change by +5°F from February and +5°F into April.
Nearby alternatives in March
- Drier: Leavenworth, WA87 mi · high 52°F · 9 wet days
- Cooler: Spokane, WA236 mi · high 49°F · 12 wet days
How Tacoma ranks in March
- Normal high230th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 9 in Washington
- Wet days368th driest of 378
- Comfortable days285th most of 339
What to pack for Tacoma in March
- A warm jacket – lows near 40°F, highs near 55°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 18 days
Frost in March
The last spring frost typically comes around Mar 8; in 1 year in 10 it comes after Mar 31. All frost dates for Tacoma.
Heating and cooling
March has 546 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 Tacoma in March?
The normal high is 55°F and the normal low is 40°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest March reading was 26°F (most recently on March 6, 2019).
Does it rain a lot in Tacoma in March?
About 18 days in March have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.4 in. The wettest March in 1991-2020 was in 2014 (8.8 in); the driest was in 1992 (1.3 in).
Does it snow in Tacoma in March?
Yes. Normal snowfall in March is 0.6 in.
Is March a good time to visit Tacoma?
March ranks 8th of 12 months on our comfort score for Tacoma (45 out of 100). It has about 2 comfortable days. The best months are June, July and August.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain and frost dates: Tacoma #1 (USC00458278), 1.6 mi ESE of the city center, 25 ft (225 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: Mcmillin Rsvr (USC00455224), 12 mi SE of the city center, 579 ft (329 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Tacoma Mcchord AFB (USW00024207), 7.3 mi SSW of the city center, 289 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Mcchord AFB Airport (742060-24207), 7.3 mi SSW of the city center, 322 ft (72 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).