Chicago Weather in March

March lacks the most bitter cold weather of winter, but it does get windier now in Chicago, Illinois.

This page gives detailed information on the typical March temperature, precipitation, sun, humidity, wind and storms for Chicago. The numbers here are historical averages based on temperature, rain and snow measurements gathered at Chicago Midway Airport and other climate data from Chicago O'Hare International Airport.

Temperature

48 °F	March average high	9 °C
32 °F	March average low	0 °C

12 days	50 °F max. or more (10 °C)
18 days	32 °F min. or less (0 °C)

The temperature rises most days in March to over 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius) in Chicago. The city averages 6 days this month when the thermometer reaches into the 60s °F (over 15 °C). Temperatures above 80 °F (26 °C) in March occur about once every few years. Typically 3 days remain below freezing for the entire day.

The thermometer dips to 20 °F (-8 °C) or below on 4 nights. But only in some years does March get as cold as 10 °F (-12 °C).

Precipitation

2.7 in	total precipitation	68 mm
11 days	of rain or snowfall

Half the time, Chicago receives 1.8 to 3.3 inches (44 to 84 mm) of precipitation in March. One in four years has drier weather, while another one in four is wetter.

Snow

5.5 in	total snowfall	14 cm
4 days	with new snow

March's snowfall varies a lot from year to year in Chicago. Between 2 and 8 inches (5 to 20 cm) of fresh snow arrives in half the years. Less new snow lands in one out of four Marches, while another twenty-five percent are snowier.

Chicago typically has at least an inch (2.5 cm) of snow on the ground for 5 days this month. The snow normally accumulates to 5 inches (13 cm) or deeper on 2 days.

Sun

51 %	sunshine
5 days	clear skies

The sun's rays reach the ground in Chicago during 51 percent of daylight hours on average in March, for a total of 189 hours in the month. Typically on 5 days this month the sky is mainly clear, with at most 30 percent cloud cover.

Sunlight in March at Chicago lasts for 11 hours and 58 minutes a day on average. The shortest day of the month is the 1st with 11 hours and 16 minutes of daylight. By the end of the month, the days have lengthened to 12:41 from sunrise to sunset. These durations can vary by a minute or two from year to year.

Humidity

70 %	March average humidity

The relative humidity in Chicago during March usually peaks at 79 percent in the morning then drops to 59 percent by mid afternoon.

Local Time	12 am	3 am	6 am	9 am	12 pm	3 pm	6 pm	9 pm
Humidity %	76	78	79	70	61	59	64	72

Wind

11.8 mph

March wind speed average

19.0 kph

March is much windier than most other months in Chicago.

Storms

2 days	snowfall of 1 inch (2.5 cm) or more
2 days	with thunderstorms in March

A March snowstorm that leaves 5 inches (13 cm) or more in one day descends on Chicago about once a decade.