Your March weather guide

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Weather in Montego Bay in March

March is a good time for Montego Bay if you want hot weather and a sea warm enough for swimming, but not if you need every day to stay dry. Daytime highs average 29°C, the sea is around 27°C, and rain falls on about 12 days. For a UK traveller, that means a clear change from March at home, with light clothing, flexible outdoor plans and some care over heat rather than a completely rain-free holiday.

Long-term climate averages for Montego Bay, not a forecast · 1991-2020

Montego Bay, month by month

Your snapshot

At a glance

The useful details for Montego Bay.

Average daytime high
28.9°C
9 in 10 days stay below 31°C
Average night-time low
22.4°C
coldest 10% of nights: 21°C or lower
Compared with London
+18.4°C
London averages 10.5°C in March
Sea temperature
26.8°C
year to year: 27°C to 27°C
Sunshine per day (est.)
7.7h
65% of 11.9 h of daylight
Rainy days (1 mm+)
12
55 mm over the month
Humidity
78%
Days over 25°C
99%
23% over 30°C
Record high 1991-2020
33.5°C
2005-03-24
Record low 1991-2020
17.8°C
2018-03-07
Flight from London
≈ 10 h 12 min
7571 km, long-haul (estimate for a direct flight)

Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.

How March compares

March is the 8th warmest month of the year in Montego Bay and ranks 21st of 134 destinations we compare for March - see where else is hot in March. Against London's average high of 10.5°C in March, Montego Bay is 18.4°C warmer by day and 19.1°C warmer at night.

Daytime and night-time in March

The typical March day in Montego Bay peaks at 28.9°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 31.0°C or more. About 99% of days top 25°C and 1 in 4 pass 30°C. Nights average 22.4°C; one night in ten drops to 21.2°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest March day here reached 33.5°C (2005-03-24) and the coldest night 17.8°C (2018-03-07).

Rain in March

Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 12 days with 1 mm or more, 55 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest March was 1998 with 141 mm, the driest 2005 with 16 mm. Humidity averages 78%, which makes the heat feel heavier than the thermometer suggests.

Sea temperature in March

The sea averages 26.8°C - warm enough to swim (22°c+). Depending on the year it ranges from 26.5°C to 27.2°C. For the warmest sea here, come in September (29.6°C).

Sunshine and daylight

Around 7.7 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 11.9 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 06:20 and sets about 18:21 local time in mid-March. Average cloud cover is 35%.

Is March a good time to visit Montego Bay?

It is a reasonable choice: hot days but expect showers. The best months for Montego Bay on our scoring are February, January, March; months averaging 25°C or more: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec.

Hot days and warm evenings

Expect proper hot-weather conditions rather than gentle spring warmth. The average daytime high is 28.9°C, and 23% of days reach 30°C, so plan anything energetic for earlier or later in the day rather than midday. Humidity averages 78%, which can make the heat feel more demanding, especially while you are adjusting after arriving from the UK. Loose, breathable clothes, shade and regular drinks are sensible priorities. Nights average 22.4°C, so evenings usually call for light clothing rather than a heavy layer. March suits travellers who enjoy warmth throughout the day and evening; it is less suitable if you prefer cool conditions for walking or sleeping.

Plenty of sunshine, with rain to plan around

March brings about 7.7 hours of sunshine within 11.9 hours of daylight, leaving plenty of scope for swimming and time outdoors. The catch is rain on about 12 days: do not treat this as a reliably dry month. That figure does not mean those days are wet throughout, but it is a reason to keep plans flexible rather than depend on uninterrupted sunshine. Carry a light waterproof and keep something to do under cover in mind. March sits alongside February and January among Montego Bay's best months overall, so it is a reasonable choice if you accept that good holiday weather here can still include rain.

A little perspective

Montego Bay through the year

March is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.

Monthly climate averages

Swipe sideways on a phone; the month stays in view.

Montego Bay monthly climate averages, 1991-2020; March is the selected month.
MonthDayNightSeaSun/dayRain mmRainy daysDays 25°C+
Januarybest27.8°C22.4°C27.1°C6.9461196%
Februarybest28.3°C22.2°C26.8°C7.7421198%
MarchSelectedbest28.9°C22.4°C26.8°C7.7551299%
April29.9°C23.2°C27.4°C7.59017100%
May30.2°C24.2°C28.1°C6.021524100%
June31.0°C25.2°C28.6°C4.814822100%
July31.3°C25.5°C28.9°C6.013123100%
August31.3°C25.6°C29.3°C5.116625100%
September30.9°C25.3°C29.6°C4.420526100%
October30.0°C24.8°C29.4°C4.318525100%
November28.7°C24.0°C28.6°C5.69017100%
December28.1°C23.2°C27.9°C6.6531298%

Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.

Day, night and sea

Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020

  • Day
  • Night
  • Sea
Bars show average daytime highs and night-time lows; circles mark the average sea temperature. Same scale for every month. Exact values are in the table.

Best months here

On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.

Keep exploring

Similar in March

Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.

A little more detail

Montego Bay in March FAQs

Plain answers, grounded in the averages.

Is Montego Bay hot in March?

Montego Bay is hot in March: the average daytime high is 28.9°C and nights average 22.4°C. About 99% of March days reach 25°C or more.

Can you swim in the sea in Montego Bay in March?

The sea around Montego Bay averages 26.8°C in March, which is warm enough for most people to swim comfortably. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 27°C to 27°C depending on the year.

How much does it rain in Montego Bay in March?

Montego Bay sees about 12 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 55 mm of rain in a typical March. The wettest March between 1991 and 2020 was 1998 (141 mm) and the driest was 2005 (16 mm).

How sunny is Montego Bay in March?

Montego Bay gets around 7.7 hours of sunshine a day in March out of 11.9 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).

How does Montego Bay compare with the UK in March?

Montego Bay is on average 18.4°C warmer than London by day in March (28.9°C against 10.5°C).

What is the hottest March on record in Montego Bay?

Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest March day in Montego Bay reached 33.5°C on 2005-03-24, and the coldest night dropped to 17.8°C on 2018-03-07.

Is the sea warm enough to swim in March?

Yes. The sea averages 26.8°C, with a year-to-year range of 26°C to 27°C. That puts it comfortably in swimming territory rather than bracing conditions, making March a good fit if spending time in the water matters to you.

How long is the flight from London?

The flight from London is about 10 h 12 min, so this is a long-haul trip for warm weather. Weigh that travel time against how much you value hot days, warm evenings and a sea suitable for swimming.

About these averages

ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020

Averages computed from daily values at Montego Bay. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 0.8 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather