March is one of the cooler months of the year in Washington, with average highs near 9.3°C and lows around -1.7°C (mean 3.8°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 83 mm of rainfall and 82% relative humidity across the period.
March is one of the cooler months of the year in Washington. Across 45 years of records, the warmest March in Washington was 2012 — when the month averaged 10.1°C — while the coldest was 1984 at 0°C. Typical March days reach 9.3°C with nights near -1.7°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.5°C per decade.
March is about average for rainfall in Washington, averaging 83 mm of rainfall. The wettest March on record was 1989 with 154 mm, while the driest was 2003 at 36 mm.
Relative humidity in Washington during March averages 82%. The most humid March was 1993 at 91%, and the least humid was 2025 at 75%.
March receives about 3.5 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Washington. The sunniest March was 2021 at 4.4 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1993 at 2.9.
Average wind speed in Washington during March is 0.5 m/s. The windiest Marchs were 1997 and 2017 at 0.6 m/s, while the calmest were 2010, 2015 and 2016, among others at 0.4 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 3.1°C | 3.1°C | 3.9°C | 3.7°C | 6.1°C | +3°C |
| Avg High | 8.7°C | 8.3°C | 9.5°C | 9.0°C | 12.3°C | +3.6°C |
| Avg Low | -2.5°C | -2.1°C | -1.7°C | -1.7°C | 0.0°C | +2.5°C |
| Avg Rain | 89 mm | 93 mm | 79 mm | 80 mm | 74 mm | -16 mm |
March temperatures in Washington have risen by about 3.2°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
March has ranged from a record low of -18.2°C (2015) to a record high of 27.5°C (2012).
Rainfall in March is about average for rainfall, averaging 83 mm, with a wettest year of 154 mm.
A quieter season to visit Washington
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of August and July tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Washington. That said, March — with days averaging 9.3°C and nights around -1.7°C (mean 3.8°C) and higher rainfall (83 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 | 13.7°C | 6.8°C | -0.1°C | 23.8°C | -8.7°C | 43 mm | 75% | 0.5 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2024 | 12.7°C | 6.9°C | 1.1°C | 22.1°C | -6.2°C | 96 mm | 80% | 0.5 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2023 | 10.2°C | 4.3°C | -1.6°C | 19.7°C | -7.6°C | 81 mm | 78% | 0.5 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2022 | 11.5°C | 5.7°C | -0.2°C | 20.5°C | -9.4°C | 53 mm | 79% | 0.5 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2021 | 13.1°C | 6.3°C | -0.5°C | 20.7°C | -7.5°C | 64 mm | 76% | 0.5 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2020 | 12.4°C | 6.9°C | 1.4°C | 23.5°C | -8.9°C | 105 mm | 84% | 0.5 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2019 | 7.5°C | 2.4°C | -2.8°C | 20.8°C | -11.9°C | 52 mm | 82% | 0.5 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2018 | 5.6°C | 1.0°C | -3.6°C | 19.2°C | -7.5°C | 77 mm | 83% | 0.5 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2017 | 8.4°C | 3.5°C | -1.4°C | 19.8°C | -12.4°C | 111 mm | 82% | 0.6 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2016 | 13.5°C | 7.6°C | 1.7°C | 21.8°C | -5.5°C | 69 mm | 81% | 0.4 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2015 | 7.4°C | 1.5°C | -4.5°C | 17.3°C | -18.2°C | 122 mm | 84% | 0.4 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2014 | 6.9°C | 0.8°C | -5.3°C | 17.6°C | -15.0°C | 49 mm | 76% | 0.5 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2013 | 5.0°C | 0.9°C | -3.2°C | 17.8°C | -8.1°C | 53 mm | 83% | 0.5 m/s | 3 |
| 2012 🔥 | 16.0°C | 10.1°C | 4.2°C | 27.5°C | -6.0°C | 81 mm | 83% | 0.5 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2011 | 8.7°C | 3.4°C | -1.8°C | 20.1°C | -8.6°C | 112 mm | 82% | 0.5 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2010 | 11.4°C | 5.5°C | -0.4°C | 21.8°C | -8.3°C | 71 mm | 83% | 0.4 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2009 | 10.9°C | 4.9°C | -1.2°C | 19.5°C | -12.8°C | 47 mm | 79% | 0.5 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2008 | 8.3°C | 2.9°C | -2.5°C | 17.3°C | -9.2°C | 112 mm | 86% | 0.5 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2007 | 11.2°C | 5.3°C | -0.5°C | 22.8°C | -11.7°C | 124 mm | 83% | 0.5 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2006 | 9.1°C | 3.7°C | -1.7°C | 22.5°C | -7.3°C | 49 mm | 79% | 0.5 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2005 | 6.0°C | 1.1°C | -3.7°C | 21.3°C | -13.8°C | 86 mm | 87% | 0.5 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2004 | 10.4°C | 5.0°C | -0.3°C | 21.8°C | -7.0°C | 89 mm | 84% | 0.5 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2003 | 10.8°C | 4.7°C | -1.5°C | 21.1°C | -11.3°C | 36 mm | 82% | 0.5 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2002 | 9.9°C | 4.2°C | -1.6°C | 20.1°C | -11.9°C | 107 mm | 77% | 0.5 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2001 | 6.5°C | 1.5°C | -3.5°C | 14.0°C | -8.6°C | 73 mm | 80% | 0.5 m/s | 3 |
| 2000 | 12.3°C | 5.9°C | -0.5°C | 23.0°C | -7.5°C | 64 mm | 77% | 0.5 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1999 | 6.6°C | 0.8°C | -5.0°C | 19.1°C | -13.7°C | 54 mm | 81% | 0.5 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1998 | 9.6°C | 5.1°C | 0.6°C | 24.5°C | -10.6°C | 63 mm | 82% | 0.5 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1997 | 9.3°C | 3.9°C | -1.6°C | 18.4°C | -6.4°C | 134 mm | 82% | 0.6 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1996 | 5.5°C | 0.3°C | -4.8°C | 15.3°C | -13.8°C | 109 mm | 83% | 0.5 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1995 | 11.3°C | 4.8°C | -1.7°C | 21.1°C | -10.1°C | 48 mm | 78% | 0.5 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1994 | 6.6°C | 1.8°C | -3.0°C | 20.3°C | -8.6°C | 138 mm | 87% | 0.5 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1993 | 5.9°C | 1.4°C | -3.2°C | 18.2°C | -17.8°C | 140 mm | 91% | 0.5 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1992 | 7.6°C | 2.5°C | -2.6°C | 22.6°C | -13.1°C | 98 mm | 84% | 0.5 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1991 | 9.3°C | 4.7°C | 0.0°C | 20.5°C | -8.7°C | 97 mm | 85% | 0.5 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1990 | 11.3°C | 5.7°C | 0.1°C | 24.1°C | -10.5°C | 45 mm | 82% | 0.4 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1989 🌧️ | 8.8°C | 2.8°C | -3.2°C | 22.6°C | -15.7°C | 154 mm | 87% | 0.5 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1988 | 8.9°C | 3.1°C | -2.6°C | 20.5°C | -10.9°C | 82 mm | 82% | 0.5 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1987 | 10.6°C | 4.6°C | -1.5°C | 20.8°C | -7.4°C | 52 mm | 79% | 0.4 m/s | 4 |
| 1986 | 9.3°C | 3.4°C | -2.6°C | 22.3°C | -16.6°C | 62 mm | 83% | 0.5 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1985 | 10.0°C | 4.3°C | -1.5°C | 21.3°C | -8.3°C | 120 mm | 80% | 0.5 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1984 ❄️ | 4.9°C | 0.0°C | -4.8°C | 21.2°C | -12.9°C | 83 mm | 85% | 0.5 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1983 | 10.3°C | 4.7°C | -0.9°C | 22.4°C | -8.4°C | 94 mm | 80% | 0.5 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 8.9°C | 3.3°C | -2.2°C | 18.1°C | -9.2°C | 110 mm | 83% | 0.5 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 6.5°C | 1.5°C | -3.4°C | 20.6°C | -9.5°C | 48 mm | 80% | 0.5 m/s | — |
Actual recorded March data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in March is around 9.3°C with lows near -1.7°C (mean 3.8°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
March averages 83 mm of rainfall in Washington, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 154 mm in 1989.
The hottest March reached 27.5°C in 2012. The coldest dipped to -18.2°C in 2015.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average March temperatures have risen by about 3.2°C. Daytime highs moved from 8.1°C to 12.2°C and overnight lows from -2.6°C to -0.3°C over the same span.
March is one of the cooler months of the year in Washington and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 9.3°C daytime highs and -1.7°C at night.
Not quite — March is the 4th coolest month in Washington, averaging 3.8°C.
For March in Washington, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 9.3°C and lows of -1.7°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in March averages 82% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in March is 0.5 m/s. The windiest March on record averaged 0.6 m/s (1997).
The wettest March on record was 1989 with 154 mm. On average, March sees 83 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 Washington 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.
