March is one of the cooler months of the year in New Bedford, with average highs near 5.4°C and lows around 0.7°C (mean 3.1°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 112 mm of rainfall and 82% relative humidity across the period.
March is one of the cooler months of the year in New Bedford. Across 45 years of records, the warmest March in New Bedford was 2012 — when the month averaged 6.3°C — while the coldest was 2015 at 0.5°C. Typical March days reach 5.4°C with nights near 0.7°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
March is a relatively wet time of year in New Bedford, averaging 112 mm of rainfall. The wettest March on record was 2010 with 265 mm, while the driest was 2006 at 12 mm.
Relative humidity in New Bedford during March averages 82%. The most humid March was 2010 at 86%, and the least humid was 1985 at 77%.
March receives about 3.8 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in New Bedford. The sunniest March was 2021 at 4.5 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1989 and 2004 at 3.2.
Average wind speed in New Bedford during March is 5.8 m/s. The windiest March was 2018 at 7.4 m/s, while the calmest was 1995 at 4.5 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 2.8°C | 2.6°C | 2.9°C | 3.1°C | 4.4°C | +1.6°C |
| Avg High | 5.2°C | 5.0°C | 5.3°C | 5.3°C | 6.8°C | +1.6°C |
| Avg Low | 0.3°C | 0.3°C | 0.6°C | 0.8°C | 2.1°C | +1.8°C |
| Avg Rain | 111 mm | 120 mm | 108 mm | 114 mm | 106 mm | -5 mm |
March temperatures in New Bedford have risen by about 1.5°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
March has ranged from a record low of -11.3°C (1986) to a record high of 16.5°C (2012).
Rainfall in March is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 112 mm, with a wettest year of 265 mm.
A quieter season to visit New Bedford
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting New Bedford. That said, March — with days averaging 5.4°C and nights around 0.7°C (mean 3.1°C) and higher rainfall (112 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 | 6.6°C | 4.3°C | 2.0°C | 10.2°C | -6.7°C | 68 mm | 83% | 5.9 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2024 | 7.2°C | 5.1°C | 3.0°C | 10.4°C | -1.8°C | 228 mm | 83% | 6 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2023 | 6.6°C | 4.3°C | 2.1°C | 10.5°C | -0.9°C | 90 mm | 81% | 5.6 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2022 | 7.0°C | 4.3°C | 1.6°C | 13.6°C | -5.2°C | 90 mm | 81% | 5.5 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2021 | 6.1°C | 3.4°C | 0.7°C | 12.7°C | -7.4°C | 63 mm | 80% | 5.5 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2020 | 7.1°C | 5.1°C | 3.0°C | 11.5°C | -4.1°C | 97 mm | 81% | 5.9 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2019 | 4.6°C | 2.4°C | 0.2°C | 9.4°C | -7.6°C | 101 mm | 80% | 5.6 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2018 | 4.7°C | 2.9°C | 1.1°C | 10.9°C | -4.7°C | 158 mm | 81% | 7.4 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2017 | 3.9°C | 1.3°C | -1.2°C | 9.8°C | -9.6°C | 109 mm | 78% | 6.8 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2016 | 7.0°C | 4.8°C | 2.7°C | 12.6°C | -3.7°C | 82 mm | 82% | 5.6 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2015 ❄️ | 2.9°C | 0.5°C | -1.9°C | 8.5°C | -8.9°C | 117 mm | 80% | 5.3 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2014 | 3.6°C | 1.1°C | -1.4°C | 9.1°C | -7.1°C | 110 mm | 78% | 5.8 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2013 | 5.1°C | 3.0°C | 0.9°C | 9.6°C | -3.1°C | 111 mm | 81% | 6.1 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2012 🔥 | 8.6°C | 6.3°C | 4.0°C | 16.5°C | -3.5°C | 30 mm | 83% | 5.4 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2011 | 5.5°C | 3.1°C | 0.8°C | 10.7°C | -7.1°C | 55 mm | 80% | 5.9 m/s | 4 |
| 2010 🌧️ | 7.1°C | 5.1°C | 3.1°C | 10.1°C | -0.7°C | 265 mm | 86% | 6.1 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2009 | 4.9°C | 2.7°C | 0.5°C | 11.7°C | -8.3°C | 81 mm | 82% | 5.3 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2008 | 5.8°C | 3.5°C | 1.1°C | 11.5°C | -1.7°C | 113 mm | 79% | 6 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2007 | 5.4°C | 2.5°C | -0.3°C | 12.0°C | -10.8°C | 121 mm | 82% | 6.3 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2006 | 5.5°C | 3.1°C | 0.6°C | 12.2°C | -5.3°C | 12 mm | 79% | 5.3 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2005 | 3.9°C | 1.5°C | -0.8°C | 8.1°C | -8.1°C | 120 mm | 82% | 5.5 m/s | 4 |
| 2004 | 4.5°C | 2.5°C | 0.6°C | 8.4°C | -4.4°C | 65 mm | 84% | 5.8 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2003 | 4.9°C | 2.2°C | -0.4°C | 10.2°C | -8.9°C | 129 mm | 85% | 5.2 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2002 | 6.9°C | 4.3°C | 1.7°C | 13.4°C | -4.8°C | 110 mm | 81% | 5.7 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2001 | 4.4°C | 2.4°C | 0.4°C | 8.1°C | -4.3°C | 200 mm | 82% | 5.8 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2000 | 7.1°C | 4.6°C | 2.1°C | 11.4°C | -3.7°C | 125 mm | 83% | 5.7 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1999 | 6.1°C | 3.3°C | 0.6°C | 12.3°C | -7.2°C | 118 mm | 81% | 6.9 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1998 | 5.6°C | 3.7°C | 1.8°C | 14.3°C | -8.0°C | 139 mm | 85% | 5.9 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1997 | 5.0°C | 2.6°C | 0.1°C | 12.4°C | -5.4°C | 168 mm | 80% | 6.4 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1996 | 3.4°C | 1.0°C | -1.4°C | 10.0°C | -9.7°C | 73 mm | 81% | 5.4 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1995 | 5.1°C | 3.0°C | 1.0°C | 9.1°C | -4.8°C | 45 mm | 84% | 4.5 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1994 | 4.8°C | 2.4°C | 0.0°C | 10.6°C | -6.9°C | 185 mm | 86% | 5.3 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1993 | 3.9°C | 1.5°C | -0.9°C | 9.8°C | -9.6°C | 177 mm | 86% | 5.8 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1992 | 3.8°C | 1.4°C | -1.0°C | 9.7°C | -8.9°C | 90 mm | 80% | 6.1 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1991 | 6.4°C | 4.0°C | 1.6°C | 12.4°C | -3.3°C | 150 mm | 83% | 6.1 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1990 | 5.5°C | 3.3°C | 1.1°C | 13.5°C | -5.2°C | 60 mm | 82% | 5.2 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1989 | 4.4°C | 2.4°C | 0.3°C | 12.1°C | -7.9°C | 112 mm | 82% | 5.8 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1988 | 5.6°C | 2.9°C | 0.2°C | 9.6°C | -6.2°C | 87 mm | 80% | 5.6 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1987 | 5.0°C | 2.9°C | 0.8°C | 11.9°C | -6.1°C | 136 mm | 86% | 5.6 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1986 | 5.7°C | 3.0°C | 0.3°C | 13.1°C | -11.3°C | 83 mm | 83% | 5.4 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1985 | 6.1°C | 3.4°C | 0.7°C | 13.5°C | -3.9°C | 90 mm | 77% | 5.7 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1984 | 3.2°C | 0.9°C | -1.5°C | 8.2°C | -9.7°C | 157 mm | 82% | 6.8 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1983 | 6.1°C | 4.0°C | 2.0°C | 9.4°C | -4.0°C | 218 mm | 84% | 6.3 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 5.6°C | 2.8°C | 0.0°C | 10.0°C | -5.4°C | 85 mm | 83% | 5.1 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 5.2°C | 2.7°C | 0.2°C | 13.1°C | -4.4°C | 28 mm | 80% | 5.7 m/s | — |
Actual recorded March data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in March is around 5.4°C with lows near 0.7°C (mean 3.1°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
March averages 112 mm of rainfall in New Bedford, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 265 mm in 2010.
The hottest March reached 16.5°C in 2012. The coldest dipped to -11.3°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 5.2°C to 6.7°C and overnight lows from 0.3°C to 1.9°C over the same span.
March is one of the cooler months of the year in New Bedford and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 5.4°C daytime highs and 0.7°C at night.
Not quite — March is the 3rd coolest month in New Bedford, averaging 3.1°C.
For March in New Bedford, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 5.4°C and lows of 0.7°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in March averages 82% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in March is 5.8 m/s. The windiest March on record averaged 7.4 m/s (2018).
The wettest March on record was 2010 with 265 mm. On average, March sees 112 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 New Bedford 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.
