Rochester Weather in March (1981–2025)

📍 43.17°N, 77.62°W •
📊

March at a Glance in Rochester

(1981–2025)
Avg High
🔥
5.3°C
Avg Low
❄️
-4.0°C
Avg Temp
🌡️
0.6°C
Avg Rain
🌧️
61 mm
Avg Humidity
💧
83%
Avg Wind
🌬️
1.2 m/s
Avg Solar
☀️
3.3
kWh/m²/day
vs Annual
📈
-8.2°C
temp difference
❄️Cold afternoons🥶Freezing mornings☁️Cloudier skies🌧️Wet month🍃Light winds💦Humid air

Rochester March Weather Overview

March is one of the cooler months of the year in Rochester, with average highs near 5.3°C and lows around -4°C (mean 0.6°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 61 mm of rainfall and 83% relative humidity across the period.

Rochester March Temperature History (1981–2025)

Range

March is one of the cooler months of the year in Rochester. Across 45 years of records, the warmest March in Rochester was 2012 — when the month averaged 7.3°C — while the coldest was 1984 at -4.3°C. Typical March days reach 5.3°C with nights near -4°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.4°C per decade.

1981–1985 vs 2021–2025

Avg Temp-0.3°C→2.5°C+2.8°C
Max Temp4.1°C→7.6°C+3.5°C
Min Temp-4.7°C→-2.6°C+2.1°C

Trend (per decade)

Avg Temp+0.4°C/decade ↗
Max Temp+0.4°C/decade ↗
Min Temp+0.4°C/decade ↗

Distribution of Avg Temp

-5.0°C–-1.7°C4 yr (9%)
-1.7°C–1.5°C25 yr (56%)
1.5°C–4.8°C15 yr (33%)
4.8°C–8.0°C1 yr (2%)

Rochester March Rainfall History (1981–2025)

Range

March is one of the drier months in Rochester, averaging 61 mm of rainfall. The wettest March on record was 1991 with 109 mm, while the driest was 2013 at 23 mm.

Rochester March Humidity History (1981–2025)

Range

Relative humidity in Rochester during March averages 83%. The most humid March was 1984 at 90%, and the least humid was 2021 at 74%.

Rochester March Solar History (1981–2025)

Range

March receives about 3.3 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Rochester. The sunniest March was 2009 at 4 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2001 at 2.8.

Rochester March Wind History (1981–2025)

Range

Average wind speed in Rochester during March is 1.2 m/s. The windiest March was 2017 at 1.5 m/s, while the calmest were 1987 and 2003 at 1 m/s.

What March Feels Like in Rochester

🌅
Freezing
Morning
🌞
Cold
Afternoon
🌆
Freezing
Evening
Rain chanceModerate
Outdoor comfort★★☆☆☆

How March Ranks in Rochester

🥶4th coolest month of the year
🌵3rd driest month of the year
☀️7th sunniest month of the year

Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.

Explore Rochester Weather by Month

Rochester March Averages by Decade

Metric1980s1990s2000s2010s2020sChange
Avg Temp0.2°C-0.1°C0.7°C0.5°C2.7°C+2.5°C
Avg High4.9°C4.4°C5.3°C5.0°C7.8°C+2.9°C
Avg Low-4.6°C-4.5°C-4.0°C-4.0°C-2.4°C+2.2°C
Avg Rain56 mm67 mm66 mm57 mm60 mm+5 mm

Extreme March Records in Rochester

🔥Warmest March25.2°C2012
🧊Coldest March-20.6°C2015
🌧️Wettest March109 mm1991
🏜️Driest March23 mm2013
🌬️Windiest March1.5 m/s2017

Key Insights for March

✅

March temperatures in Rochester have risen by about 2.8°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.

✅

March has ranged from a record low of -20.6°C (2015) to a record high of 25.2°C (2012).

✅

Rainfall in March is one of the drier months, averaging 61 mm, with a wettest year of 109 mm.

Is March a Good Time to Visit Rochester?

A quieter season to visit Rochester

If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Rochester. That said, March — with days averaging 5.3°C and nights around -4°C (mean 0.6°C) and moderate rainfall (61 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the cooler conditions, and often means fewer crowds.

See Rochester's complete weather history All 12 months side by side, 1981–2025 records, annual trends and long-term averages in one place. View full history →

Rochester Weather in March — In Depth

☀️ March climate overview

March is one of the cooler months of the year in Rochester, with average highs near 5.3°C and lows around -4°C (mean 0.6°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 61 mm of rainfall and 83% relative humidity across the period.

🌧️ Rain, humidity & wind in March

March averages 61 mm of rainfall in Rochester, one of the drier months compared with the rest of the year. The wettest March on record saw 109 mm (1991), and the driest just 23 mm (2013). Humidity sits around 83% and average wind speed is 1.2 m/s, with solar radiation averaging 3.3 kWh/m²/day.

📈 How March has changed

Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average March temperatures have risen by about 2.8°C. Daytime highs moved from 4.1°C to 7.6°C and overnight lows from -4.7°C to -2.6°C over the same span.
March Weather in Rochester, Year by Year
🔥 warmest❄️ coldest🌧️ wettest
YearAvg HighAvg TempAvg LowHottest DayColdest DayRainfallHumidityWindSolar
20259.1°C3.3°C-2.6°C18.8°C-12.0°C49 mm78%1.4 m/s3.3
20248.3°C3.6°C-1.0°C20.3°C-8.3°C68 mm82%1.2 m/s3.6
20234.4°C0.4°C-3.6°C14.0°C-8.2°C88 mm86%1.2 m/s3
20226.7°C1.9°C-3.0°C20.0°C-13.1°C64 mm84%1.3 m/s3.2
20219.3°C3.3°C-2.7°C20.6°C-9.9°C34 mm74%1.4 m/s3.9
20208.7°C3.7°C-1.3°C19.3°C-9.3°C59 mm83%1.2 m/s3.2
20194.0°C-0.5°C-4.9°C16.8°C-13.8°C41 mm83%1.2 m/s3.4
20182.0°C-1.6°C-5.1°C9.8°C-10.0°C74 mm88%1.3 m/s3.5
20173.6°C-0.6°C-4.8°C17.2°C-11.9°C95 mm82%1.5 m/s3.2
20168.8°C3.7°C-1.5°C18.9°C-8.8°C48 mm81%1.1 m/s3.2
20152.0°C-2.6°C-7.2°C11.2°C-20.6°C32 mm81%1.2 m/s3.3
20141.5°C-3.6°C-8.7°C12.7°C-18.4°C62 mm81%1.2 m/s3.3
20133.1°C-0.4°C-4.0°C14.0°C-8.5°C23 mm84%1.3 m/s3.3
2012 🔥12.8°C7.3°C1.8°C25.2°C-8.9°C48 mm79%1.2 m/s3.6
20114.5°C0.1°C-4.3°C14.5°C-11.7°C80 mm82%1.3 m/s3.5
20108.1°C3.5°C-1.1°C17.7°C-7.3°C64 mm83%1.1 m/s3.5
20096.7°C1.6°C-3.4°C15.0°C-12.9°C84 mm79%1.1 m/s4
20082.5°C-1.6°C-5.6°C12.1°C-15.8°C95 mm88%1.2 m/s3.3
20075.0°C0.3°C-4.4°C19.9°C-18.0°C71 mm85%1.3 m/s3.2
20065.3°C1.0°C-3.3°C22.5°C-9.7°C49 mm81%1.3 m/s3.7
20053.0°C-1.1°C-5.2°C14.3°C-13.6°C44 mm87%1.1 m/s3.6
20047.2°C2.6°C-2.0°C18.1°C-8.6°C60 mm85%1.2 m/s2.9
20036.3°C0.5°C-5.3°C18.4°C-18.9°C57 mm83%1 m/s3.2
20025.8°C1.0°C-3.8°C18.4°C-9.2°C60 mm79%1.3 m/s3.2
20012.3°C-1.5°C-5.3°C9.5°C-11.4°C89 mm87%1.1 m/s2.8
20008.8°C3.7°C-1.3°C20.9°C-8.0°C48 mm81%1.2 m/s3.2
19992.9°C-1.4°C-5.7°C18.9°C-18.3°C77 mm85%1.3 m/s3.5
19985.9°C1.9°C-2.2°C23.8°C-11.8°C67 mm88%1.2 m/s3
19973.9°C-0.3°C-4.5°C17.8°C-11.2°C85 mm84%1.4 m/s3.2
19962.7°C-1.9°C-6.6°C14.9°C-15.5°C52 mm82%1.2 m/s3.5
19957.4°C1.9°C-3.6°C18.9°C-15.1°C29 mm81%1.1 m/s3.3
19943.0°C-1.2°C-5.3°C19.2°C-13.5°C64 mm88%1.2 m/s3.4
19932.4°C-1.6°C-5.6°C13.6°C-18.5°C69 mm90%1.1 m/s3
19922.9°C-1.4°C-5.7°C15.3°C-12.1°C83 mm85%1.3 m/s3.5
1991 🌧️5.3°C1.2°C-2.9°C16.5°C-10.1°C109 mm85%1.2 m/s3.4
19907.1°C2.2°C-2.7°C23.6°C-15.5°C39 mm81%1.1 m/s3.3
19894.2°C-1.0°C-6.2°C21.1°C-18.6°C84 mm82%1.2 m/s3
19885.7°C0.5°C-4.7°C20.7°C-13.9°C39 mm78%1.2 m/s3.4
19877.6°C2.3°C-2.9°C18.3°C-13.3°C55 mm81%1 m/s3.3
19866.3°C1.3°C-3.8°C21.5°C-15.2°C45 mm85%1.2 m/s3.2
19855.7°C0.9°C-4.0°C17.4°C-9.9°C92 mm78%1.4 m/s3.3
1984 ❄️-0.5°C-4.3°C-8.0°C11.9°C-16.5°C48 mm90%1.3 m/s3.3
19835.9°C1.6°C-2.6°C18.2°C-11.6°C68 mm84%1.2 m/s—
19824.6°C-0.3°C-5.2°C17.8°C-16.0°C48 mm83%1.3 m/s—
19814.8°C0.6°C-3.6°C19.8°C-10.1°C24 mm79%1.3 m/s—

Actual recorded March data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.

Other Cities in New York

Rochester March Weather — FAQ

What is the average temperature in Rochester in March?▼

The average high in March is around 5.3°C with lows near -4°C (mean 0.6°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.

Does it rain a lot in Rochester in March?▼

March averages 61 mm of rainfall in Rochester, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 109 mm in 1991.

What was the hottest March on record in Rochester?▼

The hottest March reached 25.2°C in 2012. The coldest dipped to -20.6°C in 2015.

Has March in Rochester gotten warmer over time?▼

Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average March temperatures have risen by about 2.8°C. Daytime highs moved from 4.1°C to 7.6°C and overnight lows from -4.7°C to -2.6°C over the same span.

Is March a good time to visit Rochester?▼

March is one of the cooler months of the year in Rochester and one of the drier months, so plan for around 5.3°C daytime highs and -4°C at night.

Is March the coldest month in Rochester?▼

Not quite — March is the 4th coolest month in Rochester, averaging 0.6°C.

What should I pack for Rochester in March?▼

For March in Rochester, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 5.3°C and lows of -4°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.

Is Rochester humid in March?▼

Relative humidity in March averages 83% — quite humid.

How windy is Rochester in March?▼

Average wind speed in March is 1.2 m/s. The windiest March on record averaged 1.5 m/s (2017).

Which March had the most rainfall in Rochester?▼

The wettest March on record was 1991 with 109 mm. On average, March sees 61 mm.

Where does this March weather data come from?▼

All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.

Other New York cities

Explore how the weather in Rochester 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.