Your March weather guide
CoolWeather in New York in March
March is a reasonable time for New York if you want a city break and can tolerate cold, wet weather, but it is not a reliable spring-warmth choice. Average highs are around 9°C, nights average -0.4°C, and about 10 days have rain. For a UK traveller, the key point is that New York is cooler than London at this time of year. Go prepared for coat weather, with flexible plans rather than a schedule built entirely around being outdoors.
Long-term climate averages for New York City, not a forecast · 1991-2020
New York, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for New York City.
- Average daytime high
- 8.8°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 16°C
- Average night-time low
- -0.4°C
- coldest 10% of nights: -6°C or lower
- Compared with London
- -1.7°C
- London averages 10.5°C in March
- Sea temperature
- 4.4°C
- year to year: 3°C to 6°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 4.9h
- 42% of 11.7 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 10
- 107 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 68%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 25.9°C
- 1998-03-31
- Record low 1991-2020
- -17.6°C
- 1996-03-10
- Flight from London
- ≈ 7 h 42 min
- 5579 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 9th warmest month of the year in New York and ranks 133rd of 134 destinations we compare for March - see where else is hot in March. Within United States it is 6th of 6 (United States in March). Against London's average high of 10.5°C in March, New York is 1.7°C cooler by day and 3.7°C cooler at night.
Daytime and night-time in March
The typical March day in New York peaks at 8.8°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 15.9°C or more. Roughly 1 in 1000 days top 25°C. Nights average -0.4°C; one night in ten drops to -6.0°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest March day here reached 25.9°C (1998-03-31) and the coldest night -17.6°C (1996-03-10).
Rain in March
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 10 days with 1 mm or more, 107 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest March was 2010 with 258 mm, the driest 2006 with 23 mm. Humidity averages 68%.
Sea temperature in March
The sea averages 4.4°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 3.0°C to 6.1°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (23.1°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 4.9 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 11.7 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:08 and sets about 19:02 local time in mid-March. Average cloud cover is 58%.
Is March a good time to visit New York?
March is not the strongest month here: cool days and frequent rain. The best months for New York on our scoring are August, July, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jun, Jul, Aug.
Expect cold evenings, not dependable spring warmth
New York's average March daytime high is 8.8°C, compared with London's 10.5°C. That makes it a cooler choice than staying in London, and the average night low of -0.4°C means your coat will still earn its place after dark. There can be milder spells: the warmest 10% of days reach 15.9°C or more. The catch is the colder end, with the coldest 10% of nights falling to -6°C or below. Pack layers beneath a warm outer coat, plus gloves and something to cover your head. Treat a mild afternoon as a bonus, not the basis for your packing.
Keep outdoor plans flexible
Rain is a meaningful part of the March trade-off, with about 10 rainy days rather than reliably dry conditions. Waterproof footwear and a coat that keeps rain out are more useful than packing only for the temperature. Leave room to move longer walks to a drier part of your stay, and keep indoor alternatives in mind. There is about 4.9 hours of sunshine within 11.7 hours of daylight, so daylight does not mean continuous sunshine. Plan outdoor time around the forecast and favour the warmer part of the day when conditions allow. A tightly fixed outdoor schedule is less well suited to this month.
Who March suits, and when to go instead
March suits travellers who are happy to dress for the cold and mix outdoor time with indoor breaks. It is less suitable if your idea of a holiday depends on sitting outside comfortably into the evening or travelling with light clothing. The sea averages just 4.4°C, so this is not a month to choose for comfortable sea swimming. If warmth matters more than travelling in March, June, July and August are better months to consider. For March itself, the sensible judgement is to go for the city break rather than the weather, and accept that cold or rain may shape each day's plans.
A little perspective
New York through the year
March is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3.2°C | -4.6°C | 4.9°C | 4.0 | 82 | 9 | 0% |
| February | 4.5°C | -4.3°C | 3.5°C | 4.6 | 78 | 9 | 0% |
| MarchSelected | 8.8°C | -0.4°C | 4.4°C | 4.9 | 107 | 10 | 0% |
| April | 15.1°C | 5.4°C | 7.8°C | 5.2 | 92 | 11 | 3% |
| May | 20.5°C | 11.1°C | 12.9°C | 5.5 | 86 | 11 | 20% |
| Junebest | 25.5°C | 16.6°C | 18.4°C | 6.1 | 101 | 11 | 57% |
| Julybest | 28.5°C | 19.9°C | 22.3°C | 6.7 | 104 | 11 | 86% |
| Augustbest | 27.5°C | 19.3°C | 23.1°C | 6.4 | 104 | 11 | 79% |
| September | 23.7°C | 15.8°C | 21.2°C | 5.9 | 98 | 9 | 37% |
| October | 17.4°C | 9.5°C | 16.9°C | 5.3 | 98 | 9 | 5% |
| November | 11.3°C | 3.6°C | 11.8°C | 4.4 | 77 | 8 | 0% |
| December | 6.0°C | -1.2°C | 8.0°C | 3.7 | 101 | 10 | 0% |
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
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
New York in March FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is New York hot in March?
New York is cool in March: the average daytime high is 8.8°C and nights average -0.4°C. Roughly 1 in 1000 March days reach 25°C.
Can you swim in the sea in New York in March?
The sea around New York averages 4.4°C in March, which is cold for swimming without a wetsuit. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 3°C to 6°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in New York in March?
New York sees about 10 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 107 mm of rain in a typical March. The wettest March between 1991 and 2020 was 2010 (258 mm) and the driest was 2006 (23 mm).
How sunny is New York in March?
New York gets around 4.9 hours of sunshine a day in March out of 11.7 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does New York compare with the UK in March?
New York is on average 1.7°C cooler than London by day in March (8.8°C against 10.5°C).
What is the hottest March on record in New York?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest March day in New York reached 25.9°C on 1998-03-31, and the coldest night dropped to -17.6°C on 1996-03-10.
Is New York colder than London in March?
Yes. New York's average daytime high is 8.8°C, against 10.5°C in London, a difference of 1.7°C. New York's nights average -0.4°C, so pack for cold evenings as well as cool daytime walks.
What should I pack for New York in March?
Take a warm coat, adjustable layers, gloves and waterproof footwear. Average daytime highs are around 9°C, but colder nights can fall to -6°C or below. Rain protection matters too, so avoid relying on an outer layer that only keeps you warm.
Is there enough daylight for spending time outdoors?
March has about 11.7 hours of daylight, giving you room to arrange outdoor plans before dark. Sunshine averages about 4.9 hours a day, though, so do not expect bright conditions throughout. Keep your timing flexible around rain and cold.
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 New York City. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 4.6 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
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C