Montego Bay weather in March

In March, Montego Bay sees average daytime highs of 28°C and overnight lows near 23°C, with 58 mm of rain across 12.7 wet days and about 11.9 hours of daylight. It is the 9th-warmest and 9th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 28°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 58% of the time in March, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 36 min at the start of March to 12 h 06 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, March is Montego Bay's 3rd-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Montego Bay's year-round climate.

Daytime high
28°
9th warmest
Overnight low
23°
3rd coldest
Rainfall
58 mm
12.7 wet days
Daylight
11 h 54 min
6:25 AM – 6:17 PM
Cloud cover
39%
3rd clearest
Wind
12 km/h
5th windiest
Solar energy
6.13 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.1
out of 10

Montego Bay is capital of Saint James Parish, Jamaica.

Founded
1980

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

Temperature in March

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 28°C through the month.

A typical March day in Montego Bay reaches about 28°C in the afternoon and slips back to 23°C overnight — a 6°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 26°C and 29°C. Set against its neighbours, March runs on par with February and about 1°C cooler than April.

20°23°25°28°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12822
22822
32822
42822
52822
62822
72822
82822
92822
102822
112822
122822
132822
142822
152823
162823
172823
182823
192823
202823
212823
222823
232823
242823
252823
262823
272823
282823
292823
302823
312923

How March really feels in Montego Bay

Once humidity and wind are folded in, March averages 0 days that feel above 32°C and 0 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
0
wind chill below the day's low

March sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.

Montego Bay weather by month

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

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan27° / 22°4411.4116.6
Feb28° / 22°4011.311.46.5
Mar28° / 23°5812.711.96.1
Apr29° / 23°9316.312.44.9
May29° / 24°22023.912.93.8
Jun30° / 25°14821.813.13.5
Jul30° / 25°13823.4133.4
Aug31° / 25°17126.212.63.1
Sep30° / 25°20625.912.13.1
Oct29° / 25°18324.711.63.6
Nov28° / 24°9116.411.15.2
Dec28° / 23°5011.410.96.5

Cloud cover in March

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 58% of the time in March.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 28% of March, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 14%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
18812
28812
38812
48713
58713
68713
78614
88614
98614
108515
118515
128515
138515
148515
158515
168515
178614
188614
198614
208713
218713
228713
238713
248812
258812
268812
278713
288614
298614
308515
318515

Chance of precipitation in March

Any precipitation

Montego Bay gets around 58 mm of rain over 12.7 wet days in March. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 42% and peaks near 46% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
135
235
335
435
535
636
736
837
938
1039
1140
1240
1341
1442
1543
1644
1745
1845
1946
2046
2146
2246
2346
2446
2546
2645
2745
2845
2945
3045
3145

Humidity in March

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, March lands in the oppressive band about 49% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 95% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
1165439
2165439
3175339
4175339
5175339
6175339
7185239
8185239
9175240
10175240
11175141
12175042
13165043
14165044
15154945
16054847
17044748
18044649
19044551
20034453
21034354
22034255
23024157
24024058
25023959
26023959
27013861
28013762
29013663
30013564
31013465

Wind in March

Winds average 12 km/h in March.

Across March, daily wind ranges from about 11 km/h on the calmest days to 13 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
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
1412light breeze
1512light breeze
1612light breeze
1712light breeze
1812light breeze
1912calm
2012calm
2112calm
2212calm
2312calm
2412calm
2512calm
2612calm
2712calm
2812calm
2912calm
3011calm
3111calm

Sunrise & sunset in March

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 36 min at the start of March to 12 h 06 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 30 minutes over March. Sunrise moves from 6:37 AM to 6:12 AM, and sunset from 6:13 PM to 6:21 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.66:376:13
211.66:366:13
311.66:356:14
411.76:356:14
511.76:346:14
611.76:336:15
711.76:326:15
811.76:326:15
911.76:316:16
1011.86:306:16
1111.86:296:16
1211.86:286:16
1311.86:286:17
1411.86:276:17
1511.96:266:17
1611.96:256:17
1711.96:246:18
1811.96:246:18
1911.96:236:18
2011.96:226:18
2112.06:216:19
2212.06:206:19
2312.06:196:19
2412.06:186:19
2512.06:186:20
2612.06:176:20
2712.16:166:20
2812.16:156:20
2912.16:146:20
3012.16:136:21
3112.16:126:21

Solar energy in March

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in March, about 6.13 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.43 kWh/m² to a high of 6.68 kWh/m² in April across the year — March's 6.13 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.8Bright
25.8Bright
35.8Bright
45.8Bright
55.9Bright
65.9Bright
75.9Bright
85.9Bright
96.0Bright
106.0Bright
116.0Intense
126.0Intense
136.0Intense
146.1Intense
156.1Intense
166.1Intense
176.1Intense
186.2Intense
196.2Intense
206.2Intense
216.2Intense
226.3Intense
236.3Intense
246.3Intense
256.3Intense
266.4Intense
276.4Intense
286.4Intense
296.5Intense
306.5Intense
316.5Intense
Planning a trip in March

Hazard calendar for Montego Bay

In seasonPeak

None of Montego Bay's seasonal hazards are active in March. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do peak.

Montego Bay sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.

Atlantic hurricane
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is March a good time to visit Montego Bay?

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

6.1
Sightseeing
4th-best month of the year
6.7
Beach & pool
4th-best month of the year

March is a reasonable time to visit Montego Bay for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Montego Bay in March

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

In March, Montego Bay sees daytime highs around 28°C and nights near 23°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection. Worth having: rain gear. About 13 days see rain.

light clothessun protectionrain gear

Sea temperature near Montego Bay in March

The nearest coast averages about 27°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 18 km away) is warmest in September at about 30°C and coldest in February near 27°C.

The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.

26°28°30°32°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan27Warm
Feb27Warm
Mar27Warm
Apr28Warm
May28Tropical
Jun29Tropical
Jul29Tropical
Aug29Tropical
Sep30Tropical
Oct29Tropical
Nov29Tropical
Dec28Warm

UV index in Montego Bay in March

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in March peaks around 12 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Montego Bay peaks around April 16 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 16 at about 7 (very high).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecVery highExtremeVery highApr 16UV 13Dec 16UV 7
UV index (midday)Level
Jan8Very high
Feb10Extreme
Mar12Extreme
Apr13Extreme
May12Extreme
Jun12Extreme
Jul11Extreme
Aug12Extreme
Sep11Extreme
Oct11Extreme
Nov8Very high
Dec7Very high

Air quality in Montego Bay in March

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where March falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Montego Bay is worst in June — around 32 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 4.3× the cleanest month (December, 7 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

010203040JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJun 2231 µg/m³Dec 177 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan8Good
Feb9Good
Mar10Good
Apr13Moderate
May18Moderate
Jun32Moderate
Jul30Moderate
Aug23Moderate
Sep16Moderate
Oct13Moderate
Nov8Good
Dec7Good
Location & terrain

Where is Montego Bay?

Montego Bay sits at 18.5°N, 77.9°W, 12 m above sea level, in Jamaica. The nearest listed city is Barrett Town, 13 km away.

Barrett TownFalmouthSavanna-la-MarNegrilMandevilleOcho RiosMay PenLinstead

Topography around Montego Bay

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Montego Bay has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 213 m around an average of 40 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 599 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 978 m.

The land around Montego Bay is covered by trees (31%), artificial surfaces (31%) and water (27%) within 3 km, trees (50%) and water (43%) within 16 km, and water (60%) and trees (32%) within 80 km.

3 km
213 m
16 km
599 m
80 km
978 m
treesgrasslandartificial surfaceswaterwetlandmangroves
March weather nearby: Barrett Town 13 km · Falmouth 28 km · Savanna-la-Mar 36 km · Negril 51 km · Mandeville 65 km · Ocho Rios 86 km · May Pen 91 km · Linstead 101 km

Jamaica travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type A / B
110 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 60% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$8,003
2025
Happiness
6.3 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Homicide rate
49.4
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
15.1
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Upper middle
World Bank
Religion
Protestant 65%none 21%other 7%Roman Catholic 2%

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 Montego Bay (18.4712°, -77.9188°, elevation 12 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. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). 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. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).