March is one of the warmer months of the year in Palmerston North, with average highs near 20.5°C and lows around 11.3°C (mean 15.9°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 68 mm of rainfall and 78% relative humidity across the period.
March is one of the warmer months of the year in Palmerston North. Across 45 years of records, the warmest March in Palmerston North was 1999 — when the month averaged 18.6°C — while the coldest was 1992 at 13.4°C. Typical March days reach 20.5°C with nights near 11.3°C. The long-term March temperature trend is broadly flat.
March is one of the drier months in Palmerston North, averaging 68 mm of rainfall. The wettest March on record was 1990 with 160 mm, while the driest was 1998 at 13 mm.
Relative humidity in Palmerston North during March averages 78%. The most humid Marchs were 2004 and 2023 at 86%, and the least humid was 1998 at 72%.
March receives about 4.4 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Palmerston North. The sunniest Marchs were 2003 and 2013 at 4.9 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1988, 1997 and 2005 at 4.
Average wind speed in Palmerston North during March is 3.5 m/s. The windiest March was 1983 at 4.6 m/s, while the calmest was 2013 at 2.6 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 16.0°C | 15.7°C | 16.1°C | 16.2°C | 15.3°C | -0.7°C |
| Avg High | 20.8°C | 20.2°C | 20.8°C | 21.0°C | 19.7°C | -1.1°C |
| Avg Low | 11.3°C | 11.2°C | 11.4°C | 11.5°C | 10.9°C | -0.4°C |
| Avg Rain | 62 mm | 79 mm | 48 mm | 77 mm | 81 mm | +19 mm |
March temperatures in Palmerston North have fallen by about 1.2°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
March has ranged from a record low of 3°C (1983) to a record high of 31.4°C (1981).
Rainfall in March is one of the drier months, averaging 68 mm, with a wettest year of 160 mm.
One of the best times to visit Palmerston North
March is one of the best times to visit Palmerston North. Expect days averaging 20.5°C and nights around 11.3°C (mean 15.9°C) — warmer than Palmerston North's yearly average — with moderate rainfall (68 mm), so conditions are generally comfortable for sightseeing and outdoor plans.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20.5°C | 16.0°C | 11.5°C | 24.0°C | 7.8°C | 81 mm | 81% | 3.5 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2024 | 19.1°C | 14.5°C | 9.9°C | 23.5°C | 3.8°C | 57 mm | 78% | 4.1 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2023 | 18.7°C | 14.7°C | 10.7°C | 21.8°C | 6.7°C | 77 mm | 86% | 3.7 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2022 | 19.6°C | 15.7°C | 11.8°C | 24.9°C | 6.1°C | 116 mm | 85% | 3.1 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2021 | 20.3°C | 15.6°C | 10.8°C | 25.5°C | 6.2°C | 99 mm | 79% | 3 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2020 | 20.1°C | 15.4°C | 10.8°C | 26.7°C | 7.4°C | 58 mm | 76% | 3.5 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2019 | 23.1°C | 17.8°C | 12.6°C | 26.1°C | 6.3°C | 51 mm | 78% | 2.9 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2018 | 20.8°C | 16.7°C | 12.5°C | 26.4°C | 7.1°C | 126 mm | 82% | 3.4 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2017 | 19.9°C | 15.8°C | 11.8°C | 26.6°C | 6.7°C | 119 mm | 85% | 3.3 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2016 | 21.8°C | 17.2°C | 12.6°C | 26.4°C | 7.9°C | 58 mm | 77% | 3.4 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2015 | 21.6°C | 16.8°C | 12.0°C | 26.7°C | 5.1°C | 74 mm | 78% | 2.9 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2014 | 20.9°C | 15.7°C | 10.5°C | 25.6°C | 6.4°C | 28 mm | 76% | 3.5 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2013 | 22.7°C | 16.9°C | 11.1°C | 26.8°C | 6.4°C | 62 mm | 74% | 2.6 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2012 | 18.3°C | 14.3°C | 10.3°C | 22.0°C | 5.3°C | 101 mm | 82% | 3.8 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2011 | 20.5°C | 15.6°C | 10.7°C | 23.8°C | 6.1°C | 115 mm | 80% | 3.4 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2010 | 20.0°C | 15.4°C | 10.7°C | 26.1°C | 5.1°C | 36 mm | 77% | 4.3 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2009 | 19.7°C | 15.0°C | 10.3°C | 25.4°C | 4.6°C | 22 mm | 77% | 3.7 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2008 | 22.1°C | 17.4°C | 12.7°C | 26.6°C | 9.7°C | 53 mm | 75% | 3.3 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2007 | 21.9°C | 17.0°C | 12.1°C | 26.8°C | 8.0°C | 48 mm | 77% | 3.9 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2006 | 19.3°C | 14.6°C | 9.9°C | 24.0°C | 5.7°C | 67 mm | 76% | 4.2 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2005 | 20.9°C | 16.6°C | 12.4°C | 24.5°C | 7.5°C | 115 mm | 79% | 3.7 m/s | 4 |
| 2004 | 17.3°C | 13.6°C | 10.0°C | 21.2°C | 5.3°C | 46 mm | 86% | 3.6 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2003 | 23.4°C | 17.9°C | 12.5°C | 29.5°C | 7.8°C | 24 mm | 73% | 2.7 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2002 | 21.1°C | 16.5°C | 11.9°C | 23.4°C | 7.8°C | 44 mm | 78% | 4.4 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2001 | 21.1°C | 16.0°C | 11.0°C | 25.2°C | 5.7°C | 21 mm | 73% | 3.4 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2000 | 21.1°C | 16.1°C | 11.2°C | 28.8°C | 6.8°C | 36 mm | 77% | 3.4 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1999 🔥 | 23.3°C | 18.6°C | 13.9°C | 27.6°C | 9.4°C | 65 mm | 76% | 3 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1998 | 23.1°C | 18.3°C | 13.4°C | 29.4°C | 10.2°C | 13 mm | 72% | 3.7 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1997 | 19.4°C | 15.4°C | 11.3°C | 25.8°C | 6.6°C | 86 mm | 80% | 3.6 m/s | 4 |
| 1996 | 18.4°C | 14.3°C | 10.2°C | 22.2°C | 6.2°C | 89 mm | 81% | 3.6 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1995 | 20.1°C | 15.9°C | 11.7°C | 24.7°C | 7.1°C | 102 mm | 81% | 4.1 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1994 | 19.4°C | 14.8°C | 10.2°C | 26.3°C | 5.5°C | 73 mm | 75% | 3.6 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1993 | 19.0°C | 14.1°C | 9.1°C | 25.3°C | 5.3°C | 82 mm | 79% | 3.1 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1992 ❄️ | 17.7°C | 13.4°C | 9.1°C | 23.7°C | 4.1°C | 78 mm | 82% | 4.4 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1991 | 19.8°C | 15.2°C | 10.7°C | 22.9°C | 8.1°C | 40 mm | 78% | 2.9 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1990 🌧️ | 21.6°C | 17.1°C | 12.6°C | 27.2°C | 6.1°C | 160 mm | 80% | 3.5 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1989 | 21.5°C | 16.6°C | 11.8°C | 26.4°C | 6.3°C | 50 mm | 76% | 3.5 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1988 | 19.6°C | 15.1°C | 10.6°C | 27.4°C | 6.0°C | 54 mm | 78% | 4.1 m/s | 4 |
| 1987 | 18.9°C | 14.5°C | 10.0°C | 24.7°C | 6.7°C | 127 mm | 79% | 3.4 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1986 | 20.3°C | 15.4°C | 10.6°C | 25.0°C | 5.0°C | 55 mm | 78% | 3 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1985 | 21.3°C | 15.8°C | 10.3°C | 26.9°C | 4.3°C | 43 mm | 75% | 3.4 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1984 | 21.4°C | 16.9°C | 12.4°C | 26.6°C | 9.0°C | 100 mm | 78% | 2.7 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1983 | 20.0°C | 15.5°C | 11.0°C | 25.2°C | 3.0°C | 44 mm | 79% | 4.6 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 20.8°C | 15.8°C | 10.9°C | 23.9°C | 6.5°C | 17 mm | 78% | 2.7 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 23.1°C | 18.4°C | 13.7°C | 31.4°C | 6.0°C | 66 mm | 76% | 3.1 m/s | — |
Actual recorded March data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in March is around 20.5°C with lows near 11.3°C (mean 15.9°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
March averages 68 mm of rainfall in Palmerston North, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 160 mm in 1990.
The hottest March reached 31.4°C in 1981. The coldest dipped to 3°C in 1983.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average March temperatures have fallen by about 1.2°C. Daytime highs moved from 21.3°C to 19.6°C and overnight lows from 11.7°C to 10.9°C over the same span.
March is one of the warmer months of the year in Palmerston North and one of the drier months, so plan for around 20.5°C daytime highs and 11.3°C at night.
Not quite — March is the 10th coolest month in Palmerston North, averaging 15.9°C.
For March in Palmerston North, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 20.5°C and lows of 11.3°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in March averages 78% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in March is 3.5 m/s. The windiest March on record averaged 4.6 m/s (1983).
The wettest March on record was 1990 with 160 mm. On average, March sees 68 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 Palmerston North 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.
