Madison, WI weather in March
Expect chilly weather with frequent rain and some snow in Madison in March, with highs near 44°F and lows near 25°F. Rain or snow falls on about 11 days. Snowfall averages about 7.0 in.
- Normal high
- 44°F
- Normal low
- 25°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 2.3 in total
- Snowfall
- 7.0 in
- snow on the ground 10 days
How March changes from start to finish
| March 1 | March 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 37°F | 50°F |
| Normal low | 20°F | 30°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 34% | 36% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:33 am / 5:46 pm | 6:41 am / 7:22 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 (Central Time).
A typical March day
- 6 am28°Fdew point 23°F
- 9 am34°Fdew point 25°F
- Noon40°Fdew point 25°F
- 3 pm42°Fdew point 25°F
- 6 pm39°Fdew point 25°F
- 9 pm34°Fdew point 25°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Madison Dane Rgnl Airport (6 mi away); average wind 9 mph.
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 snow11 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in5 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below23 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more10 of 31
Average days per March, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in March
Normal precipitation is 2.3 in; a dry March brings about 1.0 in and a wet one about 3.2 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 7.0 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How March varies from year to year
- Warmest March, 1991-20202012: average high 60°F
- Coolest March2013: average high 35°F
- Wettest March2009: 6.2 in
- Driest March1994: 0.5 in
- Highest reading83°F (March 21, 2012)
- Lowest reading-10°F (March 4, 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 | 31°F | 44°F | 57°F |
| Normal low | 15°F | 25°F | 36°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 11 | 13 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| Daylight | 10.5 h | 11.9 h | 13.4 h |
Highs change by +13°F from February and +13°F into April.
Nearby alternatives in March
- Warmer: Davenport, IA123 mi · high 50°F · 10 wet days
- Cooler: Sister Bay, WI185 mi · high 36°F · 8 wet days
How Madison ranks in March
- Normal high337th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 5 in Wisconsin
- Wet days261st driest of 378
- Comfortable days278th most of 339
What to pack for Madison in March
- A warm jacket – lows near 25°F, highs near 44°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 11 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 10 days
- A hat and gloves – about 23 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
March has 951 heating degree days and 1 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 12% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Madison in March?
The normal high is 44°F and the normal low is 25°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest March reading was -10°F (March 4, 2019).
Does it rain a lot in Madison in March?
About 11 days in March have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.3 in. The wettest March in 1991-2020 was in 2009 (6.2 in); the driest was in 1994 (0.5 in).
Does it snow in Madison in March?
Yes. Normal snowfall in March is 7.0 in, and snow covers the ground on about 10 days.
Is March a good time to visit Madison?
March ranks 8th of 12 months on our comfort score for Madison (42 out of 100). It has about 2 comfortable days. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Madison Dane Rgnl Airport (USW00014837), 5.5 mi NNE of the city center, 866 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Dane Co Regional-Truax Field Airport (726410-14837), 5.5 mi NNE of the city center, 859 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).