Ladysmith weather in March

In March, Ladysmith sees average daytime highs of 27°C and overnight lows near 15°C, with 117 mm of rain across 13.5 wet days and about 12.2 hours of daylight. It is the 5th-warmest and 5th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 27°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 47% of the time in March, and the air most often feels comfortable.

Daylight stretches from about 12 h 36 min at the start of March to 11 h 48 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, March is Ladysmith's 7th-clearest and 12th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Ladysmith's year-round climate.

Daytime high
27°
5th warmest
Overnight low
15°
9th coldest
Rainfall
117 mm
13.5 wet days
Daylight
12 h 12 min
6:04 AM – 6:17 PM
Cloud cover
47%
7th clearest
Wind
7 km/h
12th windiest
Solar energy
5.37 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.2
out of 10

Temperature in March

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 27°C through the month.

A typical March day in Ladysmith reaches about 27°C in the afternoon and slips back to 15°C overnight — a 12°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 22°C and 32°C. Set against its neighbours, March runs about 1°C cooler than February and about 2°C warmer than April.

10°15°20°25°30°35°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12816
22816
32816
42816
52816
62816
72816
82816
92816
102716
112716
122716
132716
142715
152715
162715
172715
182715
192715
202715
212715
222715
232715
242715
252715
262715
272715
282615
292614
302614
312614

Ladysmith weather by month

How March compares with the rest of the year at a glance. March is the 5th-warmest and 5th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan29° / 17°17218.913.64.6
Feb28° / 17°14214.6135.2
Mar27° / 15°11713.512.26.2
Apr25° / 12°587.911.37.5
May23° / 213.510.68.6
Jun21° / 142.810.28.4
Jul21° / 162.310.48.4
Aug23° / 284.4118.4
Sep26° / 11°396.911.87.6
Oct27° / 13°10013.812.76.2
Nov27° / 14°13716.813.45.4
Dec28° / 16°17919.613.84.8

Cloud cover in March

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 47% of the time in March.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 18% of March, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 34%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16337
26535
36535
46535
56634
66634
76634
86535
96535
106535
116535
126535
136535
146535
156436
166436
176436
186436
196535
206535
216535
226634
236634
246634
256733
266832
276832
286931
296931
306931
316931

Chance of precipitation in March

Any precipitation

Ladysmith gets around 117 mm of rain over 13.5 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 43% and peaks near 47% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
147
246
345
445
545
644
744
844
944
1044
1144
1244
1344
1445
1545
1645
1745
1845
1944
2044
2143
2243
2342
2441
2540
2639
2738
2837
2936
3035
3135

Humidity in March

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, March lands in the comfortable band about 52% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
11343413
21344393
31445383
41546363
51547353
61648333
71749322
81750312
91851292
101852282
111953271
121954261
132054251
142055241
152056231
162155231
172157220
182257210
192258200
202358190
212457190
222557180
232657170
242757160
252856160
263055150
273254140
283453130
293750130
303949120
314247110

Wind in March

Winds average 7 km/h in March, the calmest month.

Across March, daily wind ranges from about 7 km/h on the calmest days to 7 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
17calm
27calm
37calm
47calm
57calm
67calm
77calm
87calm
97calm
107calm
117calm
127calm
137calm
147calm
157calm
167calm
177calm
187calm
197calm
207calm
217calm
227calm
237calm
247calm
257calm
267calm
277calm
287calm
297calm
307calm
317calm

Sunrise & sunset in March

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 12 h 36 min at the start of March to 11 h 48 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 48 minutes over March. Sunrise moves from 5:55 AM to 6:13 AM, and sunset from 6:33 PM to 5:59 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.65:556:33
212.65:566:32
312.65:566:31
412.65:576:30
512.55:576:29
612.55:586:28
712.55:596:27
812.45:596:26
912.46:006:25
1012.46:016:24
1112.46:016:23
1212.36:026:21
1312.36:026:20
1412.36:036:19
1512.26:046:18
1612.26:046:17
1712.26:056:16
1812.26:056:15
1912.16:066:13
2012.16:066:12
2112.16:076:11
2212.06:086:10
2312.06:086:09
2412.06:096:07
2511.96:096:06
2611.96:106:05
2711.96:106:04
2811.96:116:03
2911.86:126:01
3011.86:126:00
3111.86:135:59

Solar energy in March

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in March, about 5.37 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.6 kWh/m² to a high of 6.53 kWh/m² in December across the year — March's 5.37 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.8Bright
25.8Bright
35.8Bright
45.8Bright
55.7Bright
65.7Bright
75.7Bright
85.6Bright
95.6Bright
105.6Bright
115.5Bright
125.5Bright
135.4Bright
145.4Bright
155.4Bright
165.3Bright
175.3Bright
185.3Bright
195.2Bright
205.2Bright
215.2Bright
225.1Bright
235.1Bright
245.1Bright
255.1Bright
265.0Bright
275.0Bright
285.0Bright
295.0Bright
305.0Bright
314.9Bright
Planning a trip in March

Hazard calendar for Ladysmith

In seasonPeak

In March, Ladysmith sits inside its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Ladysmith's rainy season runs October–March, when most of the year's rain falls.

Rainy season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is March a good time to visit Ladysmith?

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

6.2
Sightseeing
7th-best month of the year
6.4
Beach & pool
5th-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Ladysmith in March

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

In March, Ladysmith sees daytime highs around 27°C and nights near 15°C. Pack light clothes. Worth having: rain gear and sun protection. About 14 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

UV index in Ladysmith in March

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in March peaks around 11 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Ladysmith peaks around January 14 at about 15 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 22 at about 5 (moderate).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highHighModerateHighVery highExtremeJan 14UV 15Jun 22UV 5
UV index (midday)Level
Jan15Extreme
Feb13Extreme
Mar11Extreme
Apr8Very high
May6High
Jun5Moderate
Jul5Moderate
Aug5High
Sep8Very high
Oct10Very high
Nov12Extreme
Dec14Extreme

Air quality in Ladysmith 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 Ladysmith is worst in September — around 45 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 4.5× the cleanest month (January, 10 µg/m³).

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

0204060JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModeratePoorModerateGoodSep 945 µg/m³Jan 1210 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan10Good
Feb12Moderate
Mar16Moderate
Apr23Moderate
May31Moderate
Jun36Poor
Jul41Poor
Aug45Poor
Sep45Poor
Oct24Moderate
Nov13Moderate
Dec11Good
Location & terrain

Where is Ladysmith?

Ladysmith sits at 28.6°S, 29.8°E, 1,010 m above sea level, in South Africa. The nearest listed city is Estcourt, 51 km away.

Topography around Ladysmith

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Ladysmith has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 180 m around an average of 1,034 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 522 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,875 m.

The land around Ladysmith is covered by grassland (36%) and artificial surfaces (35%) within 3 km, grassland (65%) and shrubs (21%) within 16 km, and grassland (68%) within 80 km.

3 km
180 m
16 km
522 m
80 km
2,875 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
March weather nearby: Estcourt 51 km · Wembesi 55 km · Glencoe 56 km · Dundee 62 km · Harrismith 71 km · Mooi River 75 km · Tshiame 81 km · Newcastle 90 km

South Africa travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type C / M / N
230 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 41% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$6,598
2025
Happiness
5.0 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
68%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
43.7
per 100k, 2022
Road deaths
22.2
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Upper middle
World Bank
English
Very high
EF EPI 602
Religion
Christian 86%or other traditional African religions 5%nothing in particular 5%Muslim 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 Ladysmith (-28.5587°, 29.779°, elevation 1,010 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. 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).