March is one of the cooler months of the year in Philadelphia, with average highs near 10.1°C and lows around -0.8°C (mean 4.6°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 103 mm of rainfall and 80% relative humidity across the period.
March is one of the cooler months of the year in Philadelphia. Across 45 years of records, the warmest March in Philadelphia was 2012 — when the month averaged 9.1°C — while the coldest was 1984 at 0.5°C. Typical March days reach 10.1°C with nights near -0.8°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.4°C per decade.
March is about average for rainfall in Philadelphia, averaging 103 mm of rainfall. The wettest March on record was 2010 with 205 mm, while the driest was 2006 at 20 mm.
Relative humidity in Philadelphia during March averages 80%. The most humid March was 1993 at 88%, and the least humid was 2025 at 74%.
March receives about 3.9 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Philadelphia. The sunniest March was 2006 at 4.5 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1993 at 3.2.
Average wind speed in Philadelphia during March is 2.5 m/s. The windiest March was 1999 at 3.1 m/s, while the calmest was 2015 at 2.1 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 4.1°C | 4.1°C | 4.8°C | 4.4°C | 6.8°C | +2.7°C |
| Avg High | 9.6°C | 9.4°C | 10.5°C | 9.6°C | 12.6°C | +3°C |
| Avg Low | -1.5°C | -1.2°C | -0.8°C | -0.9°C | 1.0°C | +2.5°C |
| Avg Rain | 89 mm | 122 mm | 93 mm | 108 mm | 102 mm | +13 mm |
March temperatures in Philadelphia have risen by about 2.9°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
March has ranged from a record low of -21.3°C (2015) to a record high of 27.2°C (1998).
Rainfall in March is about average for rainfall, averaging 103 mm, with a wettest year of 205 mm.
A quieter season to visit Philadelphia
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of June and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Philadelphia. That said, March — with days averaging 10.1°C and nights around -0.8°C (mean 4.6°C) and higher rainfall (103 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 | 14.2°C | 7.7°C | 1.2°C | 26.1°C | -6.4°C | 102 mm | 74% | 2.7 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2024 | 12.7°C | 7.3°C | 1.8°C | 23.0°C | -4.1°C | 175 mm | 82% | 2.4 m/s | 4 |
| 2023 | 11.2°C | 5.6°C | -0.1°C | 17.9°C | -4.5°C | 60 mm | 78% | 2.5 m/s | 4 |
| 2022 | 11.8°C | 6.2°C | 0.7°C | 22.9°C | -6.9°C | 73 mm | 78% | 2.6 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2021 | 12.1°C | 6.2°C | 0.4°C | 24.2°C | -5.5°C | 106 mm | 79% | 2.4 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2020 | 13.4°C | 7.7°C | 2.0°C | 22.3°C | -4.8°C | 96 mm | 80% | 2.2 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2019 | 8.5°C | 3.3°C | -1.9°C | 20.8°C | -11.6°C | 111 mm | 83% | 2.3 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2018 | 7.5°C | 2.9°C | -1.7°C | 18.0°C | -4.7°C | 110 mm | 81% | 2.8 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2017 | 8.4°C | 3.3°C | -1.9°C | 21.6°C | -11.7°C | 121 mm | 75% | 2.8 m/s | 4 |
| 2016 | 13.5°C | 7.7°C | 1.9°C | 23.1°C | -5.1°C | 60 mm | 81% | 2.3 m/s | 4 |
| 2015 | 6.6°C | 1.2°C | -4.2°C | 17.0°C | -21.3°C | 134 mm | 82% | 2.1 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2014 | 6.9°C | 1.6°C | -3.8°C | 16.3°C | -13.6°C | 99 mm | 79% | 2.5 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2013 | 7.8°C | 3.0°C | -1.7°C | 13.7°C | -4.2°C | 80 mm | 80% | 2.6 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2012 🔥 | 14.8°C | 9.1°C | 3.5°C | 24.3°C | -5.1°C | 30 mm | 82% | 2.2 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2011 | 9.8°C | 4.4°C | -1.0°C | 22.1°C | -6.4°C | 134 mm | 80% | 2.5 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2010 🌧️ | 12.5°C | 7.2°C | 2.0°C | 20.9°C | -4.4°C | 205 mm | 85% | 2.5 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2009 | 10.3°C | 4.8°C | -0.8°C | 21.1°C | -12.5°C | 46 mm | 81% | 2.2 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2008 | 11.2°C | 5.2°C | -0.7°C | 17.9°C | -4.6°C | 98 mm | 79% | 2.7 m/s | 4 |
| 2007 | 10.1°C | 4.1°C | -1.9°C | 23.6°C | -11.9°C | 109 mm | 82% | 2.5 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2006 | 10.4°C | 4.9°C | -0.6°C | 21.5°C | -5.8°C | 20 mm | 76% | 2.3 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2005 | 7.5°C | 2.5°C | -2.5°C | 16.0°C | -9.4°C | 93 mm | 81% | 2.4 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2004 | 10.5°C | 5.3°C | 0.0°C | 20.7°C | -5.0°C | 84 mm | 83% | 2.4 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2003 | 10.6°C | 4.8°C | -1.0°C | 20.6°C | -10.9°C | 97 mm | 84% | 2.2 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2002 | 12.2°C | 6.2°C | 0.2°C | 21.8°C | -7.2°C | 114 mm | 74% | 2.7 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2001 | 8.3°C | 3.3°C | -1.8°C | 13.8°C | -5.8°C | 147 mm | 80% | 2.7 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2000 | 13.6°C | 7.3°C | 0.9°C | 24.1°C | -6.1°C | 121 mm | 79% | 2.6 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1999 | 9.6°C | 3.7°C | -2.1°C | 19.3°C | -7.7°C | 109 mm | 76% | 3.1 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1998 | 10.5°C | 5.9°C | 1.2°C | 27.2°C | -6.4°C | 135 mm | 84% | 2.5 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1997 | 9.9°C | 4.6°C | -0.6°C | 19.5°C | -5.4°C | 130 mm | 82% | 2.8 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1996 | 6.5°C | 1.3°C | -3.9°C | 16.8°C | -14.3°C | 115 mm | 82% | 2.5 m/s | 4 |
| 1995 | 11.7°C | 5.6°C | -0.5°C | 20.1°C | -9.7°C | 49 mm | 79% | 2.2 m/s | 4 |
| 1994 | 7.4°C | 2.7°C | -2.0°C | 19.9°C | -8.6°C | 193 mm | 87% | 2.5 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1993 | 7.1°C | 2.1°C | -2.8°C | 17.6°C | -16.9°C | 198 mm | 88% | 2.4 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1992 | 8.3°C | 3.2°C | -1.9°C | 17.5°C | -8.7°C | 90 mm | 79% | 2.6 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1991 | 11.1°C | 5.7°C | 0.2°C | 19.5°C | -5.3°C | 131 mm | 82% | 2.7 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1990 | 11.5°C | 6.1°C | 0.6°C | 24.8°C | -9.1°C | 68 mm | 81% | 2.2 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1989 | 9.2°C | 3.7°C | -1.7°C | 24.5°C | -10.4°C | 116 mm | 83% | 2.5 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1988 | 10.7°C | 4.8°C | -1.0°C | 21.2°C | -7.2°C | 60 mm | 78% | 2.4 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1987 | 10.6°C | 5.0°C | -0.6°C | 20.9°C | -8.1°C | 71 mm | 82% | 2.3 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1986 | 11.0°C | 4.7°C | -1.6°C | 21.3°C | -11.0°C | 48 mm | 79% | 2.4 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1985 | 11.0°C | 5.2°C | -0.7°C | 22.0°C | -6.7°C | 52 mm | 75% | 2.7 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1984 ❄️ | 5.1°C | 0.5°C | -4.0°C | 14.6°C | -13.4°C | 161 mm | 84% | 2.7 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1983 | 10.7°C | 5.6°C | 0.4°C | 18.8°C | -5.7°C | 178 mm | 81% | 3 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 9.5°C | 3.9°C | -1.7°C | 18.1°C | -6.4°C | 68 mm | 81% | 2.3 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 8.6°C | 3.2°C | -2.3°C | 21.7°C | -7.3°C | 43 mm | 76% | 2.5 m/s | — |
Actual recorded March data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in March is around 10.1°C with lows near -0.8°C (mean 4.6°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
March averages 103 mm of rainfall in Philadelphia, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 205 mm in 2010.
The hottest March reached 27.2°C in 1998. The coldest dipped to -21.3°C in 2015.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average March temperatures have risen by about 2.9°C. Daytime highs moved from 9°C to 12.4°C and overnight lows from -1.7°C to 0.8°C over the same span.
March is one of the cooler months of the year in Philadelphia and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 10.1°C daytime highs and -0.8°C at night.
Not quite — March is the 4th coolest month in Philadelphia, averaging 4.6°C.
For March in Philadelphia, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 10.1°C and lows of -0.8°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in March averages 80% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in March is 2.5 m/s. The windiest March on record averaged 3.1 m/s (1999).
The wettest March on record was 2010 with 205 mm. On average, March sees 103 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 Philadelphia 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.
