March is one of the cooler months of the year in Ithaca, with average highs near 4.5°C and lows around -5°C (mean -0.2°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 72 mm of rainfall and 86% relative humidity across the period.
March is one of the cooler months of the year in Ithaca. Across 45 years of records, the warmest March in Ithaca was 2012 — when the month averaged 6.1°C — while the coldest was 1984 at -4.8°C. Typical March days reach 4.5°C with nights near -5°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
March is one of the drier months in Ithaca, averaging 72 mm of rainfall. The wettest March on record was 2008 with 148 mm, while the driest was 1981 at 28 mm.
Relative humidity in Ithaca during March averages 86%. The most humid March was 1994 at 96%, and the least humid was 2021 at 79%.
March receives about 3.4 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Ithaca. The sunniest Marchs were 1999, 2012 and 2021 at 3.8 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2001 at 2.7.
Average wind speed in Ithaca during March is 0.9 m/s. The windiest Marchs were 2017, 2021 and 2025, among others at 1 m/s, while the calmest were 2009, 2010 and 2016, among others at 0.8 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -0.6°C | -1.0°C | -0.2°C | -0.6°C | 1.8°C | +2.4°C |
| Avg High | 4.3°C | 3.6°C | 4.5°C | 4.0°C | 6.9°C | +2.6°C |
| Avg Low | -5.4°C | -5.4°C | -5.0°C | -5.4°C | -3.3°C | +2.1°C |
| Avg Rain | 62 mm | 79 mm | 85 mm | 64 mm | 72 mm | +10 mm |
March temperatures in Ithaca have risen by about 2.7°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
March has ranged from a record low of -28°C (1993) to a record high of 23.5°C (1998).
Rainfall in March is one of the drier months, averaging 72 mm, with a wettest year of 148 mm.
A quieter season to visit Ithaca
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Ithaca. That said, March — with days averaging 4.5°C and nights around -5°C (mean -0.2°C) and moderate rainfall (72 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 | 8.6°C | 2.8°C | -3.0°C | 18.5°C | -12.8°C | 52 mm | 81% | 1 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2024 | 7.1°C | 2.3°C | -2.5°C | 16.6°C | -11.5°C | 99 mm | 87% | 0.9 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2023 | 4.0°C | -0.2°C | -4.5°C | 13.5°C | -9.9°C | 87 mm | 87% | 0.9 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2022 | 6.3°C | 1.3°C | -3.8°C | 20.7°C | -13.8°C | 88 mm | 86% | 0.9 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2021 | 7.5°C | 1.7°C | -4.0°C | 20.3°C | -13.0°C | 42 mm | 79% | 1 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2020 | 7.6°C | 2.7°C | -2.2°C | 19.2°C | -11.8°C | 65 mm | 85% | 0.9 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2019 | 2.9°C | -1.6°C | -6.2°C | 16.2°C | -15.4°C | 43 mm | 86% | 0.9 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2018 | 0.5°C | -3.4°C | -7.3°C | 9.1°C | -16.5°C | 78 mm | 94% | 0.9 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2017 | 2.0°C | -2.2°C | -6.5°C | 14.9°C | -15.8°C | 100 mm | 85% | 1 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2016 | 8.4°C | 3.0°C | -2.5°C | 19.3°C | -10.6°C | 42 mm | 82% | 0.8 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2015 | 0.7°C | -4.0°C | -8.7°C | 9.0°C | -21.4°C | 41 mm | 85% | 0.9 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2014 | 0.7°C | -4.3°C | -9.3°C | 11.5°C | -19.3°C | 73 mm | 84% | 0.9 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2013 | 2.1°C | -1.8°C | -5.6°C | 10.0°C | -12.0°C | 44 mm | 87% | 0.9 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2012 🔥 | 11.6°C | 6.1°C | 0.5°C | 22.8°C | -11.3°C | 47 mm | 83% | 0.9 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2011 | 3.5°C | -1.1°C | -5.8°C | 13.2°C | -14.5°C | 101 mm | 87% | 1 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2010 | 7.9°C | 2.9°C | -2.2°C | 16.3°C | -11.4°C | 71 mm | 87% | 0.8 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2009 | 6.0°C | 0.9°C | -4.3°C | 17.5°C | -14.2°C | 81 mm | 81% | 0.8 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2008 🌧️ | 2.8°C | -1.4°C | -5.7°C | 7.4°C | -12.1°C | 148 mm | 89% | 0.9 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2007 | 3.7°C | -1.3°C | -6.3°C | 16.9°C | -19.8°C | 96 mm | 89% | 0.9 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2006 | 4.3°C | 0.0°C | -4.3°C | 19.8°C | -11.2°C | 50 mm | 84% | 1 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2005 | 2.0°C | -2.3°C | -6.6°C | 12.0°C | -14.0°C | 76 mm | 90% | 0.8 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2004 | 6.0°C | 1.5°C | -3.0°C | 17.2°C | -11.0°C | 61 mm | 87% | 0.8 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2003 | 5.8°C | -0.1°C | -6.1°C | 19.0°C | -20.3°C | 64 mm | 87% | 0.9 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2002 | 5.2°C | 0.4°C | -4.3°C | 15.7°C | -11.9°C | 73 mm | 81% | 1 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2001 | 1.0°C | -2.9°C | -6.8°C | 8.8°C | -15.2°C | 131 mm | 91% | 0.8 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2000 | 8.0°C | 2.8°C | -2.3°C | 20.8°C | -11.5°C | 65 mm | 83% | 0.9 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1999 | 2.9°C | -1.6°C | -6.0°C | 17.7°C | -17.7°C | 83 mm | 86% | 1 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1998 | 5.2°C | 0.9°C | -3.3°C | 23.5°C | -12.8°C | 80 mm | 90% | 0.8 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1997 | 3.3°C | -1.0°C | -5.3°C | 15.8°C | -13.6°C | 88 mm | 86% | 1 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1996 | 2.5°C | -2.3°C | -7.2°C | 14.8°C | -17.1°C | 49 mm | 82% | 0.8 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1995 | 6.4°C | 1.0°C | -4.4°C | 17.9°C | -15.5°C | 33 mm | 84% | 0.9 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1994 | 0.4°C | -3.3°C | -7.0°C | 14.3°C | -15.8°C | 129 mm | 96% | 0.8 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1993 | 1.3°C | -3.2°C | -7.7°C | 15.0°C | -28.0°C | 100 mm | 95% | 0.8 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1992 | 2.1°C | -2.2°C | -6.4°C | 13.3°C | -13.3°C | 87 mm | 88% | 0.9 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1991 | 5.0°C | 0.8°C | -3.3°C | 15.5°C | -11.3°C | 89 mm | 87% | 0.9 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1990 | 6.4°C | 1.3°C | -3.8°C | 21.6°C | -18.0°C | 49 mm | 84% | 0.8 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1989 | 4.2°C | -1.3°C | -6.9°C | 20.6°C | -19.8°C | 88 mm | 82% | 0.9 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1988 | 4.7°C | -0.5°C | -5.6°C | 19.0°C | -15.0°C | 45 mm | 82% | 0.9 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1987 | 7.0°C | 1.6°C | -3.8°C | 18.6°C | -15.5°C | 51 mm | 84% | 0.8 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1986 | 5.5°C | 0.5°C | -4.4°C | 21.2°C | -17.0°C | 69 mm | 87% | 0.9 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1985 | 5.1°C | 0.1°C | -5.0°C | 18.9°C | -13.2°C | 87 mm | 81% | 1 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1984 ❄️ | -0.8°C | -4.8°C | -8.8°C | 12.0°C | -18.6°C | 65 mm | 91% | 0.9 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1983 | 5.5°C | 1.1°C | -3.3°C | 16.1°C | -12.8°C | 61 mm | 84% | 0.9 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 3.7°C | -1.3°C | -6.2°C | 15.8°C | -17.4°C | 63 mm | 87% | 1 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 3.8°C | -0.5°C | -4.8°C | 19.9°C | -12.2°C | 28 mm | 83% | 0.9 m/s | — |
Actual recorded March data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in March is around 4.5°C with lows near -5°C (mean -0.2°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
March averages 72 mm of rainfall in Ithaca, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 148 mm in 2008.
The hottest March reached 23.5°C in 1998. The coldest dipped to -28°C in 1993.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average March temperatures have risen by about 2.7°C. Daytime highs moved from 3.5°C to 6.7°C and overnight lows from -5.6°C to -3.6°C over the same span.
March is one of the cooler months of the year in Ithaca and one of the drier months, so plan for around 4.5°C daytime highs and -5°C at night.
Not quite — March is the 4th coolest month in Ithaca, averaging -0.2°C.
For March in Ithaca, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 4.5°C and lows of -5°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in March averages 86% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in March is 0.9 m/s. The windiest March on record averaged 1 m/s (1982).
The wettest March on record was 2008 with 148 mm. On average, March sees 72 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 Ithaca 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.
