March is one of the cooler months of the year in Nelson, with average highs near -1.1°C and lows around -9°C (mean -5°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 69 mm of rainfall and 97% relative humidity across the period.
March is one of the cooler months of the year in Nelson. Across 45 years of records, the warmest March in Nelson was 1992 — when the month averaged 0°C — while the coldest was 2002 at -8.9°C. Typical March days reach -1.1°C with nights near -9°C. The long-term March temperature trend is broadly flat.
March is about average for rainfall in Nelson, averaging 69 mm of rainfall. The wettest March on record was 2017 with 151 mm, while the driest was 1992 at 15 mm.
Relative humidity in Nelson during March averages 97%. The most humid March was 2017 at 99%, and the least humid was 1992 at 81%.
March receives about 2.9 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Nelson. The sunniest March was 2019 at 3.7 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2012 at 2.
Average wind speed in Nelson during March is 0.4 m/s. The windiest Marchs were 2021, 2023 and 2024, among others at 0.5 m/s, while the calmest were 2018, 2022 and 2025, among others at 0.4 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -4.7°C | -5.2°C | -5.1°C | -4.9°C | -5.4°C | -0.7°C |
| Avg High | -0.8°C | -1.1°C | -1.1°C | -1.1°C | -1.2°C | -0.4°C |
| Avg Low | -8.6°C | -9.4°C | -9.0°C | -8.7°C | -9.5°C | -0.9°C |
| Avg Rain | 67 mm | 49 mm | 65 mm | 94 mm | 74 mm | +7 mm |
March temperatures in Nelson have stayed relatively stable across the record.
March has ranged from a record low of -31.5°C (2014) to a record high of 13.8°C (1992).
Rainfall in March is about average for rainfall, averaging 69 mm, with a wettest year of 151 mm.
A good time to visit Nelson
March is a good time to visit Nelson, with days averaging -1.1°C and nights around -9°C (mean -5°C, cooler than Nelson's yearly average) and moderate rainfall. August and July are marginally more temperate, but March still suits most travellers.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | -0.2°C | -3.4°C | -6.6°C | 2.3°C | -11.5°C | 116 mm | 99% | 0.4 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2024 | -1.4°C | -5.3°C | -9.2°C | 3.6°C | -23.3°C | 112 mm | 97% | 0.5 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2023 | -2.5°C | -7.8°C | -13.2°C | 0.3°C | -22.5°C | 62 mm | 98% | 0.5 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2022 | -0.6°C | -3.8°C | -7.0°C | 3.6°C | -19.7°C | 56 mm | 96% | 0.4 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2021 | -0.5°C | -4.7°C | -9.0°C | 1.9°C | -16.8°C | 34 mm | 96% | 0.5 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2020 | -2.2°C | -7.2°C | -12.1°C | 0.1°C | -27.9°C | 63 mm | 98% | 0.5 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2019 | -2.4°C | -6.8°C | -11.1°C | 2.5°C | -27.5°C | 29 mm | 94% | 0.5 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2018 | -1.3°C | -5.5°C | -9.6°C | 1.1°C | -18.6°C | 82 mm | 97% | 0.4 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2017 🌧️ | -1.1°C | -4.7°C | -8.3°C | 1.1°C | -16.6°C | 151 mm | 99% | 0.4 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2016 | -0.3°C | -3.6°C | -6.9°C | 1.2°C | -18.4°C | 111 mm | 99% | 0.4 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2015 | 0.5°C | -2.5°C | -5.4°C | 7.5°C | -21.0°C | 102 mm | 95% | 0.4 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2014 | -2.3°C | -6.2°C | -10.1°C | 1.0°C | -31.5°C | 115 mm | 99% | 0.4 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2013 | -1.5°C | -5.3°C | -9.1°C | 1.3°C | -20.9°C | 72 mm | 98% | 0.4 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2012 | -1.2°C | -5.5°C | -9.8°C | 0.9°C | -19.8°C | 131 mm | 99% | 0.4 m/s | 2 |
| 2011 | -1.2°C | -5.1°C | -9.0°C | 1.0°C | -16.5°C | 97 mm | 99% | 0.4 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2010 | -0.3°C | -3.8°C | -7.4°C | 1.7°C | -13.3°C | 52 mm | 96% | 0.4 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2009 | -3.3°C | -7.5°C | -11.8°C | 0.0°C | -25.6°C | 60 mm | 98% | 0.4 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2008 | -1.9°C | -6.3°C | -10.6°C | 0.0°C | -18.3°C | 50 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2007 | -0.7°C | -3.8°C | -6.8°C | 3.0°C | -19.4°C | 109 mm | 98% | 0.4 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2006 | -1.8°C | -6.3°C | -10.7°C | 0.0°C | -21.1°C | 43 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2005 | 2.0°C | -2.0°C | -5.9°C | 11.3°C | -12.1°C | 63 mm | 85% | 0.4 m/s | 3 |
| 2004 | 0.1°C | -3.5°C | -7.1°C | 10.6°C | -13.8°C | 52 mm | 95% | 0.4 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2003 | -1.5°C | -4.9°C | -8.3°C | 2.2°C | -19.4°C | 110 mm | 98% | 0.4 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2002 ❄️ | -4.4°C | -8.9°C | -13.5°C | 0.2°C | -26.0°C | 48 mm | 99% | 0.4 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2001 | 1.7°C | -2.6°C | -6.9°C | 8.7°C | -15.6°C | 52 mm | 87% | 0.4 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2000 | -1.0°C | -4.8°C | -8.7°C | 0.1°C | -13.9°C | 64 mm | 99% | 0.4 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1999 | -1.5°C | -5.5°C | -9.5°C | 1.0°C | -17.4°C | 53 mm | 97% | 0.5 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1998 | -1.3°C | -4.7°C | -8.0°C | 1.3°C | -17.9°C | 62 mm | 97% | 0.4 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1997 | -2.1°C | -6.0°C | -10.0°C | 1.4°C | -23.8°C | 90 mm | 98% | 0.4 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1996 | -3.0°C | -7.8°C | -12.6°C | 0.3°C | -23.9°C | 34 mm | 98% | 0.4 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1995 | -2.0°C | -6.0°C | -10.0°C | 1.3°C | -27.0°C | 70 mm | 98% | 0.4 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1994 | -0.9°C | -5.0°C | -9.2°C | 3.7°C | -19.2°C | 34 mm | 96% | 0.5 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1993 | -1.3°C | -5.5°C | -9.7°C | 0.4°C | -17.9°C | 44 mm | 98% | 0.4 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1992 🔥 | 3.9°C | 0.0°C | -4.0°C | 13.8°C | -9.3°C | 15 mm | 81% | 0.5 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1991 | -2.1°C | -7.1°C | -12.1°C | 1.3°C | -22.3°C | 53 mm | 98% | 0.5 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1990 | -0.6°C | -4.9°C | -9.3°C | 3.8°C | -19.3°C | 31 mm | 97% | 0.4 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1989 | -2.5°C | -6.6°C | -10.7°C | 0.4°C | -27.4°C | 69 mm | 99% | 0.4 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1988 | -0.8°C | -4.8°C | -8.9°C | 1.3°C | -17.0°C | 77 mm | 97% | 0.4 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1987 | -0.3°C | -3.7°C | -7.1°C | 2.2°C | -19.8°C | 90 mm | 98% | 0.4 m/s | 3 |
| 1986 | 0.3°C | -2.6°C | -5.6°C | 3.0°C | -9.4°C | 44 mm | 97% | 0.4 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1985 | -1.9°C | -6.1°C | -10.3°C | 0.6°C | -17.4°C | 38 mm | 98% | 0.5 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1984 | -0.2°C | -3.7°C | -7.2°C | 0.1°C | -15.1°C | 65 mm | 99% | 0.4 m/s | 3 |
| 1983 | -0.3°C | -3.7°C | -7.0°C | 1.9°C | -16.3°C | 87 mm | 99% | 0.4 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -1.5°C | -6.6°C | -11.6°C | 0.0°C | -21.2°C | 73 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -0.2°C | -4.5°C | -8.7°C | 1.6°C | -19.5°C | 60 mm | 98% | 0.4 m/s | — |
Actual recorded March data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in March is around -1.1°C with lows near -9°C (mean -5°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
March averages 69 mm of rainfall in Nelson, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 151 mm in 2017.
The hottest March reached 13.8°C in 1992. The coldest dipped to -31.5°C in 2014.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average March temperatures have fallen by about 0.1°C. Daytime highs moved from -0.8°C to -1°C and overnight lows from -9°C to -9°C over the same span.
March is one of the cooler months of the year in Nelson and about average for rainfall, so plan for around -1.1°C daytime highs and -9°C at night.
Not quite — March is the 4th coolest month in Nelson, averaging -5°C.
For March in Nelson, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -1.1°C and lows of -9°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in March averages 97% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in March is 0.4 m/s. The windiest March on record averaged 0.5 m/s (1982).
The wettest March on record was 2017 with 151 mm. On average, March sees 69 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in Nelson behaves each March, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for March specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
