March is one of the cooler months of the year in Cape Breton, with average highs near 0.9°C and lows around -4.8°C (mean -1.9°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 86 mm of rainfall and 86% relative humidity across the period.
March is one of the cooler months of the year in Cape Breton. Across 45 years of records, the warmest March in Cape Breton was 1999 — when the month averaged 1.3°C — while the coldest was 2015 at -5.9°C. Typical March days reach 0.9°C with nights near -4.8°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
March is about average for rainfall in Cape Breton, averaging 86 mm of rainfall. The wettest March on record was 1999 with 198 mm, while the driest was 1990 at 21 mm.
Relative humidity in Cape Breton during March averages 86%. The most humid March was 1987 at 90%, and the least humid was 2008 at 80%.
March receives about 2.9 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Cape Breton. The sunniest Marchs were 1992 and 2023 at 3.5 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2015 at 2.1.
Average wind speed in Cape Breton during March is 6.6 m/s. The windiest Marchs were 2007 and 2008 at 7.7 m/s, while the calmest was 2006 at 5.4 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -2.7°C | -1.9°C | -2.0°C | -2.0°C | -0.7°C | +2°C |
| Avg High | 0.4°C | 1.1°C | 0.7°C | 0.7°C | 1.7°C | +1.3°C |
| Avg Low | -5.8°C | -4.9°C | -4.7°C | -4.7°C | -3.1°C | +2.7°C |
| Avg Rain | 95 mm | 76 mm | 88 mm | 89 mm | 83 mm | -12 mm |
March temperatures in Cape Breton have risen by about 1.5°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
March has ranged from a record low of -19.2°C (1986) to a record high of 17°C (2012).
Rainfall in March is about average for rainfall, averaging 86 mm, with a wettest year of 198 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.1°C per decade while lows rose 0.5°C per decade, narrowing the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Cape Breton
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of August and July tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Cape Breton. That said, March — with days averaging 0.9°C and nights around -4.8°C (mean -1.9°C) and higher rainfall (86 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the cooler conditions, and often means fewer crowds.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2.2°C | -0.2°C | -2.6°C | 6.1°C | -7.3°C | 70 mm | 86% | 5.9 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2024 | 2.5°C | 0.7°C | -1.1°C | 6.7°C | -8.6°C | 87 mm | 88% | 6.4 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2023 | 0.9°C | -1.1°C | -3.1°C | 4.5°C | -8.9°C | 69 mm | 86% | 6.3 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2022 | 1.6°C | -1.1°C | -3.7°C | 9.8°C | -14.3°C | 107 mm | 87% | 6.5 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2021 | 2.0°C | -0.8°C | -3.7°C | 9.8°C | -11.1°C | 77 mm | 83% | 6.6 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2020 | 0.7°C | -1.7°C | -4.1°C | 5.2°C | -8.2°C | 88 mm | 85% | 6.8 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2019 | 0.4°C | -2.8°C | -5.9°C | 5.2°C | -15.6°C | 68 mm | 85% | 5.7 m/s | 3 |
| 2018 | 1.6°C | -0.4°C | -2.4°C | 5.2°C | -7.3°C | 96 mm | 88% | 7.4 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2017 | -0.7°C | -3.3°C | -5.8°C | 6.2°C | -16.0°C | 129 mm | 86% | 7.4 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2016 | 0.9°C | -2.0°C | -5.0°C | 7.0°C | -10.3°C | 103 mm | 82% | 6.8 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2015 ❄️ | -1.9°C | -5.9°C | -9.9°C | 2.3°C | -16.8°C | 134 mm | 88% | 6.5 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2014 | -1.2°C | -4.4°C | -7.7°C | 8.1°C | -17.2°C | 126 mm | 84% | 6.6 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2013 | 1.5°C | -0.5°C | -2.5°C | 5.4°C | -8.2°C | 78 mm | 88% | 6.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2012 | 2.7°C | 0.1°C | -2.5°C | 17.0°C | -8.8°C | 51 mm | 83% | 6.6 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2011 | 1.2°C | -1.1°C | -3.4°C | 6.3°C | -10.5°C | 32 mm | 83% | 7.3 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2010 | 2.6°C | 0.4°C | -1.8°C | 8.7°C | -5.9°C | 72 mm | 85% | 6 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2009 | 0.6°C | -2.2°C | -5.1°C | 10.5°C | -11.1°C | 71 mm | 85% | 6.8 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2008 | 0.4°C | -2.5°C | -5.4°C | 7.5°C | -12.5°C | 87 mm | 80% | 7.7 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2007 | 0.7°C | -1.9°C | -4.5°C | 7.0°C | -14.5°C | 54 mm | 84% | 7.7 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2006 | 1.5°C | -0.8°C | -3.1°C | 8.8°C | -12.3°C | 38 mm | 83% | 5.4 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2005 | 0.5°C | -2.0°C | -4.5°C | 3.9°C | -10.2°C | 152 mm | 84% | 6.6 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2004 | -0.1°C | -3.1°C | -6.0°C | 4.1°C | -11.9°C | 70 mm | 88% | 5.9 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2003 | -0.2°C | -3.8°C | -7.4°C | 7.5°C | -14.7°C | 119 mm | 88% | 6.9 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2002 | 1.1°C | -1.5°C | -4.2°C | 9.4°C | -8.9°C | 110 mm | 81% | 6.6 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2001 | 0.0°C | -2.3°C | -4.6°C | 5.1°C | -15.4°C | 73 mm | 88% | 6.1 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2000 | 2.6°C | 0.2°C | -2.1°C | 6.9°C | -7.6°C | 103 mm | 88% | 6.6 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1999 🔥 🌧️ | 3.8°C | 1.3°C | -1.3°C | 12.1°C | -6.8°C | 198 mm | 87% | 7.1 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1998 | 2.3°C | 0.0°C | -2.2°C | 9.2°C | -8.5°C | 124 mm | 87% | 6.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1997 | -1.1°C | -4.4°C | -7.7°C | 6.6°C | -14.3°C | 70 mm | 84% | 6.6 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1996 | 1.3°C | -1.6°C | -4.6°C | 7.3°C | -11.8°C | 48 mm | 80% | 6.6 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1995 | 1.0°C | -1.7°C | -4.3°C | 5.6°C | -12.7°C | 27 mm | 85% | 6.3 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1994 | 1.1°C | -1.9°C | -4.8°C | 6.6°C | -14.6°C | 75 mm | 88% | 6.5 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1993 | 1.4°C | -2.7°C | -6.7°C | 14.9°C | -15.3°C | 69 mm | 84% | 6.7 m/s | 3 |
| 1992 | -1.1°C | -4.6°C | -8.2°C | 5.9°C | -17.2°C | 64 mm | 85% | 6.7 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1991 | 2.2°C | -0.6°C | -3.4°C | 8.3°C | -9.6°C | 59 mm | 86% | 6.9 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1990 | -0.2°C | -3.3°C | -6.3°C | 8.5°C | -14.0°C | 21 mm | 81% | 6.1 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1989 | -0.5°C | -4.5°C | -8.5°C | 7.9°C | -17.2°C | 66 mm | 86% | 6.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1988 | 0.6°C | -2.5°C | -5.6°C | 5.3°C | -12.3°C | 66 mm | 86% | 7 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1987 | 0.1°C | -3.0°C | -6.2°C | 8.3°C | -15.0°C | 48 mm | 90% | 5.8 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1986 | 0.2°C | -4.1°C | -8.3°C | 9.2°C | -19.2°C | 64 mm | 88% | 6.3 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1985 | -0.6°C | -4.2°C | -7.8°C | 4.8°C | -17.7°C | 114 mm | 88% | 7.1 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1984 | 0.1°C | -2.3°C | -4.7°C | 5.4°C | -16.2°C | 109 mm | 87% | 7.2 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1983 | 1.4°C | -0.7°C | -2.9°C | 7.2°C | -9.7°C | 188 mm | 89% | 6.5 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -0.4°C | -3.5°C | -6.6°C | 5.4°C | -16.4°C | 100 mm | 87% | 6.3 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 2.9°C | 0.5°C | -1.8°C | 9.0°C | -3.5°C | 99 mm | 84% | 6.4 m/s | — |
Actual recorded March data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in March is around 0.9°C with lows near -4.8°C (mean -1.9°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
March averages 86 mm of rainfall in Cape Breton, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 198 mm in 1999.
The hottest March reached 17°C in 2012. The coldest dipped to -19.2°C in 1986.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average March temperatures have risen by about 1.5°C. Daytime highs moved from 0.7°C to 1.8°C and overnight lows from -4.8°C to -2.8°C over the same span.
March is one of the cooler months of the year in Cape Breton and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 0.9°C daytime highs and -4.8°C at night.
Not quite — March is the 3rd coolest month in Cape Breton, averaging -1.9°C.
For March in Cape Breton, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 0.9°C and lows of -4.8°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in March averages 86% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in March is 6.6 m/s. The windiest March on record averaged 7.7 m/s (2007).
The wettest March on record was 1999 with 198 mm. On average, March sees 86 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 Cape Breton 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.
