Oulu weather in March

In March, Oulu sees average daytime highs of -1°C and overnight lows near -8°C, with 30 mm of precipitation across 7.7 wet days and about 11.2 hours of daylight. It is the 9th-warmest and 10th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about -3°C in the first days to 1°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 23% of the time in March, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 24 min at the start of March to 12 h 54 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, March is Oulu's 6th-clearest and 6th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Oulu's year-round climate.

Daytime high
-1°
9th warmest
Overnight low
-8°
4th coldest
Precipitation
30 mm
7.7 wet days
Daylight
11 h 12 min
6:53 AM – 6:03 PM
Cloud cover
69%
6th clearest
Wind
13 km/h
6th windiest
Solar energy
1.98 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

Oulu is urban area in North Ostrobothnia region, Finland.

Air quality
Good
PM2.5 5.1 µg/m³ · 2019

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in March

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs climb over the month, from about -3°C in the first days to 1°C by the end.

A typical March day in Oulu reaches about -1°C in the afternoon and slips back to -8°C overnight — a 7°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between -6°C and 4°C. Set against its neighbours, March runs about 5°C warmer than February and about 6°C cooler than April.

-20°-10°10°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
1-4-10
2-3-10
3-3-10
4-3-9
5-3-9
6-3-9
7-2-9
8-2-9
9-2-9
10-2-8
11-2-8
12-1-8
13-1-8
14-1-8
15-1-8
16-1-8
17-1-8
180-8
190-8
200-8
210-7
220-7
230-7
240-7
251-7
261-7
271-7
281-7
291-6
301-6
312-6

How March really feels in Oulu

Once humidity and wind are folded in, March averages 0 days that feel above 32°C and 31 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 32°C
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
31
31 feel bitter (≤ -10°C)

The story in March is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.

Oulu weather by month

How March compares with the rest of the year at a glance. March is the 9th-warmest and 10th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan-6° / -11°358.89.84.50.0
Feb-6° / -12°2988.67.70.0
Mar-1° / -8°307.78.111.20.0
Apr / -3°307.43.814.70.5
May12° / 48100.718.23.2
Jun17° / 5610020.85.4
Jul20° / 12°7812.2019.66.0
Aug18° / 10°7112016.35.5
Sep13° / 5610.4012.73.4
Oct / 5010.32.69.20.5
Nov / -4°4810.675.70.0
Dec-3° / -8°4410.89.83.20.0

Cloud cover in March

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 23% of the time in March.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 9% of March, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 67%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
12575
22674
32674
42773
52872
62872
72971
82971
93070
103070
113169
123268
133268
143367
153367
163466
173466
183466
193565
203565
213565
223565
233664
243763
253664
263664
273664
283763
293763
303763
313763

Chance of precipitation in March

Any precipitationSnow

Oulu gets around 30 mm of rain and snow over 7.7 wet days in March. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 26% and peaks near 27% on the wettest days, and about 8 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
12728
22728
32728
42728
52728
62728
72728
82727
92727
102727
112727
122727
132727
142627
152627
162627
172526
182526
192426
202425
212425
222325
232325
242425
252425
262424
272424
282524
292523
302523
312522

Humidity in March

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of March feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, March lands in the dry band about 100% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)
1100
2100
3100
4100
5100
6100
7100
8100
9100
10100
11100
12100
13100
14100
15100
16100
17100
18100
19100
20100
21100
22100
23100
24100
25100
26100
27100
28100
29100
30100
31100

Wind in March

Winds average 13 km/h in March.

Across March, daily wind ranges from about 12 km/h on the calmest days to 13 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
113light breeze
213light breeze
313light breeze
413light breeze
513light breeze
613light breeze
713light breeze
813light breeze
913light breeze
1013light breeze
1113light breeze
1213light breeze
1313light breeze
1413light breeze
1513light breeze
1613light breeze
1713light breeze
1813light breeze
1913light breeze
2013light breeze
2113light breeze
2213light breeze
2313light breeze
2413light breeze
2513light breeze
2613light breeze
2713light breeze
2813light breeze
2913light breeze
3013light breeze
3112light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in March

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 24 min at the start of March to 12 h 54 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 210 minutes over March. Sunrise moves from 7:49 AM to 5:56 AM, and sunset from 5:14 PM to 6:50 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.47:495:14
29.57:455:17
39.77:415:21
49.87:385:24
59.97:345:27
610.07:305:31
710.17:265:34
810.27:235:37
910.47:195:40
1010.57:155:43
1110.67:125:47
1210.77:085:50
1310.87:045:53
1410.97:005:56
1511.06:575:59
1611.26:536:03
1711.36:496:06
1811.46:456:09
1911.56:426:12
2011.66:386:15
2111.76:346:18
2211.96:306:22
2312.06:276:25
2412.16:236:28
2512.26:196:31
2612.36:156:34
2712.46:116:37
2812.56:086:41
2912.76:046:44
3012.86:006:47
3112.95:566:50

Solar energy in March

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in March, about 1.98 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 0.02 kWh/m² to a high of 5.52 kWh/m² in June across the year — March's 1.98 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
11.1Dim
21.2Dim
31.2Dim
41.3Dim
51.3Dim
61.4Dim
71.4Dim
81.5Dim
91.5Dim
101.6Dim
111.6Dim
121.7Dim
131.8Dim
141.8Dim
151.9Dim
162.0Dim
172.0Moderate
182.1Moderate
192.2Moderate
202.2Moderate
212.3Moderate
222.4Moderate
232.4Moderate
242.5Moderate
252.5Moderate
262.6Moderate
272.6Moderate
282.7Moderate
292.8Moderate
302.8Moderate
312.9Moderate
Planning a trip in March

Is March a good time to visit Oulu?

Our two travel scores rate March for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

0.0
Sightseeing
8th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
6th-best month of the year

March is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Oulu.

What to pack for Oulu in March

From March's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In March, Oulu sees daytime highs around -1°C and nights near -8°C. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. About 8 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coat

Sea temperature near Oulu in March

The nearest coast averages about -0°C in March — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 13 km away) is warmest in August at about 16°C and coldest in February near -0°C.

The water stays below 20°C all year — cool enough that most swimmers want a wetsuit.

0°10°20°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcool
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan0Bracing
Feb0Bracing
Mar0Bracing
Apr0Bracing
May3Bracing
Jun10Bracing
Jul15Bracing
Aug16Cool
Sep12Bracing
Oct8Bracing
Nov4Bracing
Dec1Bracing

UV index in Oulu in March

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in March peaks around 1. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Oulu peaks around July 15 at about 4 (moderate) — a little sun protection helps at midday. It bottoms out near December 17 at about 0 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 4 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLowModerateLowJul 15UV 4Dec 17UV 0
UV index (midday)Level
Jan0Low
Feb0Low
Mar1Low
Apr2Moderate
May4Moderate
Jun4Moderate
Jul5Moderate
Aug3Moderate
Sep2Low
Oct1Low
Nov0Low
Dec0Low
Location & terrain

Where is Oulu?

Oulu sits at 65.0°N, 25.5°E, 15 m above sea level, in Finland. The nearest listed city is Haukipudas, 19 km away.

KemiTornioYlivieskaKajaaniRovaniemiLuleå

Topography around Oulu

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Oulu.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Oulu has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 38 m around an average of 11 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 75 m; within 80 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 199 m.

The land around Oulu is covered by trees (40%) and artificial surfaces (38%) within 3 km, trees (52%) and water (28%) within 16 km, and trees (59%) and water (24%) within 80 km.

3 km
38 m
16 km
75 m
80 km
199 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetland
March weather nearby: Haukipudas 19 km · Raahe 59 km · Kemi 91 km · Tornio 111 km · Ylivieska 112 km · Kajaani 139 km · Rovaniemi 166 km · Luleå 167 km

Finland travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 1
Exercise Normal Precautions
Power plugs
Type C / F
230 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 85% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$56,149
2025
Happiness
7.8 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
100%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
1
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
3.9
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
English
Very high
EF EPI 603
Religion
Lutheran 67%none 31%other 2%Greek Orthodox 1%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Oulu (65.0124°, 25.4682°, elevation 15 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).