Charleston, WV weather in March
In March, Charleston sees highs around 57°F and lows around 35°F: cool, with frequent rain and some snow. Expect about 15 wet days. Snowfall averages about 5.9 in.
- Normal high
- 57°F
- Normal low
- 35°F
- Wet days
- 15
- 4.1 in total
- Snowfall
- 5.9 in
- snow on the ground 2 days
How March changes from start to finish
| March 1 | March 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 51°F | 63°F |
| Normal low | 31°F | 39°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 48% | 46% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:58 am / 6:19 pm | 7:12 am / 7:48 pm |
| Daylight | 11.3 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 am39°Fdew point 32°F
- 9 am42°Fdew point 33°F
- Noon50°Fdew point 33°F
- 3 pm54°Fdew point 33°F
- 6 pm52°Fdew point 32°F
- 9 pm47°Fdew point 32°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Charleston Yeager Airport (3 mi away); average wind 6 mph; clear or few clouds in 44% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 50%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F8 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 snow15 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in9 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below14 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more2 of 31
Average days per March, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in March
Normal precipitation is 4.1 in; a dry March brings about 3.2 in and a wet one about 4.5 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 5.9 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How March varies from year to year
- Warmest March, 1991-20202012: average high 69°F
- Coolest March2013: average high 48°F
- Wettest March1997: 8.3 in
- Driest March2019: 1.6 in
- Highest reading87°F (March 28, 2020)
- Lowest reading4°F (March 4, 2014)
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 | 48°F | 57°F | 69°F |
| Normal low | 29°F | 35°F | 45°F |
| Wet days | 14 | 15 | 13 |
| Comfortable days | 3 | 8 | 14 |
| Daylight | 10.8 h | 12.0 h | 13.2 h |
Highs change by +9°F from February and +12°F into April.
Nearby alternatives in March
- Warmer: High Point, NC188 mi · high 64°F · 11 wet days
- Drier: Cincinnati, OH164 mi · high 55°F · 12 wet days
- Cooler: Columbus, OH133 mi · high 51°F · 13 wet days
How Charleston ranks in March
- Normal high210th warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 4 in West Virginia
- Wet days359th driest of 378
- Comfortable days185th most of 339
What to pack for Charleston in March
- A warm jacket – lows near 35°F, highs near 57°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 15 days
- Waterproof boots – about 5.9 in of snow in a typical year
Heating and cooling
March has 596 heating degree days and 5 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 11% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Charleston in March?
The normal high is 57°F and the normal low is 35°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest March reading was 4°F (March 4, 2014).
Does it rain a lot in Charleston in March?
About 15 days in March have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.1 in. The wettest March in 1991-2020 was in 1997 (8.4 in); the driest was in 2019 (1.6 in).
Does it snow in Charleston in March?
Yes. Normal snowfall in March is 5.9 in, and snow covers the ground on about 2 days.
Is March a good time to visit Charleston?
March ranks 6th of 12 months on our comfort score for Charleston (53 out of 100). It has about 8 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: Charleston Yeager Airport (USW00013866), 3.1 mi NE of the city center, 910 ft (314 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Huntington Tri State Airport (USW00003860), 50 mi W of the city center, 824 ft (228 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Yeager Airport (724140-13866), 3.1 mi NE of the city center, 912 ft (316 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.