March is one of the cooler months of the year in Preston, with average highs near 7.8°C and lows around 2°C (mean 4.9°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 84 mm of rainfall and 91% relative humidity across the period.
March is one of the cooler months of the year in Preston. Across 45 years of records, the warmest March in Preston was 2012 — when the month averaged 7.3°C — while the coldest was 2013 at 1.2°C. Typical March days reach 7.8°C with nights near 2°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
March is about average for rainfall in Preston, averaging 84 mm of rainfall. The wettest March on record was 1981 with 172 mm, while the driest was 2025 at 30 mm.
Relative humidity in Preston during March averages 91%. The most humid Marchs were 1981 and 1983 at 93%, and the least humid was 2022 at 87%.
March receives about 2.4 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Preston. The sunniest March was 2025 at 3 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1991 at 1.8.
Average wind speed in Preston during March is 4 m/s. The windiest March was 1994 at 5.9 m/s, while the calmest was 2011 at 2.7 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 3.9°C | 5.2°C | 4.9°C | 4.8°C | 5.9°C | +2°C |
| Avg High | 6.5°C | 7.9°C | 7.9°C | 7.8°C | 9.1°C | +2.6°C |
| Avg Low | 1.3°C | 2.5°C | 1.9°C | 1.8°C | 2.7°C | +1.4°C |
| Avg Rain | 107 mm | 85 mm | 73 mm | 79 mm | 79 mm | -28 mm |
March temperatures in Preston have risen by about 1.8°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
March has ranged from a record low of -6.4°C (2001) to a record high of 17.4°C (2012).
Rainfall in March is about average for rainfall, averaging 84 mm, with a wettest year of 172 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.4°C per decade while lows rose 0.2°C per decade, widening the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Preston
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Preston. That said, March — with days averaging 7.8°C and nights around 2°C (mean 4.9°C) and higher rainfall (84 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 | 10.2°C | 6.4°C | 2.5°C | 14.8°C | -2.2°C | 30 mm | 89% | 3.2 m/s | 3 |
| 2024 | 8.9°C | 6.4°C | 3.9°C | 12.7°C | -0.6°C | 105 mm | 92% | 4.1 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2023 | 7.9°C | 5.1°C | 2.4°C | 12.8°C | -2.5°C | 133 mm | 91% | 3.8 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2022 | 10.3°C | 6.5°C | 2.7°C | 16.0°C | -1.9°C | 41 mm | 87% | 3.4 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2021 | 8.6°C | 5.8°C | 3.1°C | 15.3°C | -1.4°C | 91 mm | 91% | 3.9 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2020 | 8.5°C | 5.1°C | 1.7°C | 14.6°C | -1.7°C | 74 mm | 89% | 4.2 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2019 | 8.6°C | 5.9°C | 3.3°C | 13.1°C | -0.2°C | 146 mm | 91% | 4.5 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2018 | 5.7°C | 3.0°C | 0.2°C | 12.4°C | -5.4°C | 85 mm | 91% | 4.2 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2017 | 9.3°C | 6.5°C | 3.6°C | 13.8°C | -0.6°C | 121 mm | 92% | 3.8 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2016 | 7.5°C | 4.4°C | 1.4°C | 11.7°C | -2.7°C | 80 mm | 91% | 3.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2015 | 7.7°C | 4.4°C | 1.2°C | 11.8°C | -1.7°C | 84 mm | 89% | 4.4 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2014 | 8.8°C | 5.8°C | 2.7°C | 14.2°C | -1.8°C | 66 mm | 91% | 4.1 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2013 ❄️ | 3.8°C | 1.2°C | -1.3°C | 8.4°C | -3.4°C | 61 mm | 89% | 4 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2012 🔥 | 10.7°C | 7.3°C | 3.8°C | 17.4°C | -0.6°C | 30 mm | 88% | 2.9 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2011 | 8.6°C | 5.3°C | 2.0°C | 13.8°C | -2.3°C | 40 mm | 90% | 2.7 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2010 | 7.2°C | 4.4°C | 1.5°C | 11.6°C | -4.1°C | 77 mm | 91% | 3.1 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2009 | 7.9°C | 5.1°C | 2.4°C | 12.3°C | -2.1°C | 59 mm | 91% | 4.2 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2008 | 6.9°C | 4.2°C | 1.6°C | 11.0°C | -2.6°C | 106 mm | 90% | 5.1 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2007 | 8.7°C | 5.7°C | 2.7°C | 13.8°C | -3.0°C | 73 mm | 91% | 4.5 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2006 | 5.6°C | 3.0°C | 0.4°C | 12.3°C | -3.4°C | 135 mm | 90% | 4 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2005 | 8.8°C | 5.9°C | 3.0°C | 15.3°C | -3.5°C | 63 mm | 91% | 3.7 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2004 | 7.8°C | 4.8°C | 1.9°C | 13.3°C | -3.0°C | 65 mm | 91% | 3.9 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2003 | 9.8°C | 5.9°C | 2.1°C | 13.4°C | -1.8°C | 42 mm | 90% | 3.3 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2002 | 8.8°C | 5.6°C | 2.5°C | 12.3°C | -1.4°C | 55 mm | 91% | 4.1 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2001 | 6.2°C | 3.1°C | 0.1°C | 11.2°C | -6.4°C | 68 mm | 91% | 3.5 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2000 | 8.4°C | 5.5°C | 2.7°C | 11.7°C | -1.8°C | 62 mm | 91% | 4.1 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1999 | 7.9°C | 5.4°C | 2.8°C | 13.7°C | -1.6°C | 101 mm | 93% | 3.9 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1998 | 8.8°C | 6.1°C | 3.5°C | 14.1°C | -2.3°C | 142 mm | 93% | 3.7 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1997 | 9.4°C | 6.5°C | 3.5°C | 14.4°C | -1.8°C | 58 mm | 92% | 4.2 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1996 | 5.9°C | 2.8°C | -0.2°C | 9.1°C | -3.6°C | 47 mm | 89% | 3.7 m/s | 2 |
| 1995 | 5.8°C | 3.3°C | 0.7°C | 11.4°C | -3.8°C | 93 mm | 91% | 4.6 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1994 | 7.1°C | 4.9°C | 2.7°C | 10.7°C | -1.0°C | 117 mm | 92% | 5.9 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1993 | 7.9°C | 4.9°C | 1.9°C | 13.3°C | -2.6°C | 31 mm | 89% | 4.1 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1992 | 7.9°C | 5.5°C | 3.1°C | 11.1°C | 0.1°C | 111 mm | 91% | 5 m/s | 2 |
| 1991 | 9.2°C | 6.2°C | 3.1°C | 14.5°C | -1.3°C | 101 mm | 93% | 3.6 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1990 | 9.1°C | 6.4°C | 3.7°C | 15.5°C | -2.1°C | 43 mm | 90% | 5.4 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1989 | 8.0°C | 5.4°C | 2.8°C | 13.5°C | -3.3°C | 119 mm | 91% | 4.7 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1988 | 6.3°C | 3.9°C | 1.5°C | 10.0°C | -2.3°C | 116 mm | 92% | 4 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1987 | 4.8°C | 2.3°C | -0.3°C | 11.1°C | -3.6°C | 121 mm | 92% | 4.4 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1986 | 5.7°C | 3.1°C | 0.5°C | 10.1°C | -6.0°C | 101 mm | 92% | 4.6 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1985 | 6.0°C | 3.2°C | 0.3°C | 11.2°C | -3.1°C | 56 mm | 90% | 3.6 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1984 | 6.0°C | 3.1°C | 0.2°C | 9.8°C | -2.5°C | 58 mm | 91% | 3.1 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1983 | 6.6°C | 4.5°C | 2.5°C | 9.5°C | -1.9°C | 108 mm | 93% | 4.4 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 7.3°C | 4.5°C | 1.7°C | 12.0°C | -0.9°C | 114 mm | 90% | 4.2 m/s | — |
| 1981 🌧️ | 8.2°C | 5.5°C | 2.9°C | 12.7°C | -2.0°C | 172 mm | 93% | 4.2 m/s | — |
Actual recorded March data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in March is around 7.8°C with lows near 2°C (mean 4.9°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
March averages 84 mm of rainfall in Preston, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 172 mm in 1981.
The hottest March reached 17.4°C in 2012. The coldest dipped to -6.4°C in 2001.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average March temperatures have risen by about 1.8°C. Daytime highs moved from 6.8°C to 9.2°C and overnight lows from 1.5°C to 2.9°C over the same span.
March is one of the cooler months of the year in Preston and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 7.8°C daytime highs and 2°C at night.
Not quite — March is the 4th coolest month in Preston, averaging 4.9°C.
For March in Preston, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 7.8°C and lows of 2°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in March averages 91% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in March is 4 m/s. The windiest March on record averaged 5.9 m/s (1994).
The wettest March on record was 1981 with 172 mm. On average, March sees 84 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 Preston 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.
