Chelmsford weather in March

In March, Chelmsford sees average daytime highs of 45°F and overnight lows near 30°F, with 4.2 in of precipitation across 11 wet days and about 11.6 hours of daylight. It is the 9th-warmest and 1st-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 41°F in the first days to 50°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 26% of the time in March, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 10 h 54 min at the start of March to 12 h 24 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, March is Chelmsford's 9th-clearest and 1st-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Chelmsford's year-round climate.

Daytime high
45°
9th warmest
Overnight low
30°
4th coldest
Precipitation
4.2 in
11 wet days
Daylight
11 h 36 min
6:06 AM – 5:44 PM
Cloud cover
64%
9th clearest
Wind
8 mph
1st windiest
Solar energy
3.88 kWh/m²
Travel score
1.0
out of 10

Chelmsford is town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States.

Founded
1633

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 41°F in the first days to 50°F by the end.

A typical March day in Chelmsford reaches about 45°F in the afternoon and slips back to 30°F overnight — a 15°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 34°F and 58°F. Set against its neighbours, March runs about 8°F warmer than February and about 12°F cooler than April.

20°40°60°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
14126
24126
34126
44226
54226
64227
74227
84227
94327
104328
114328
124428
134428
144429
154429
164529
174529
184530
194630
204631
214631
224731
234732
244732
254833
264833
274933
284934
295034
305034
315135

How March really feels in Chelmsford

Once humidity and wind are folded in, March averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 31 that feel at or below 32°F — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 90°F
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ 32°F
31
wind chill below the day's low

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

Chelmsford weather by month

How March compares with the rest of the year at a glance. March is the 9th-warmest and 1st-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan35° / 21°3.39.66.29.20.0
Feb38° / 22°3.08.65.710.30.0
Mar45° / 30°4.2114.911.61.0
Apr57° / 40°3.710.61.213.13.9
May67° / 49°3.110.5014.46.0
Jun76° / 59°3.410.7015.16.5
Jul82° / 65°3.110.3014.86.1
Aug80° / 63°3.49.5013.76.6
Sep73° / 56°3.38.3012.37.0
Oct62° / 45°3.89.50.210.85.3
Nov50° / 35°3.49.31.19.62.3
Dec40° / 27°4.210.34.78.90.2

Cloud cover in March

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 26% of the time in March.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 16% of March, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 59%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14357
24258
34357
44357
54357
64357
74258
84258
94258
104159
114258
124258
134159
144159
154357
164258
174258
184258
194258
204258
214258
224258
234258
244258
254159
264159
274159
283961
293961
303961
313862

Chance of precipitation in March

Any precipitationSnow

Chelmsford gets around 4.2 in of rain and snow over 11 wet days in March, the wettest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 35% and peaks near 37% on the wettest days, and about 5 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
13421
23421
33420
43520
53520
63519
73519
83519
93518
103518
113517
123517
133517
143516
153516
163516
173415
183415
193415
203414
213414
223513
233513
243512
253612
263612
273611
283711
293710
303710
31379

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 (%)Comfortable (%)
11000
21000
31000
41000
51000
61000
71000
81000
91000
101000
111000
121000
131000
141000
151000
161000
171000
181000
191000
201000
211000
221000
231000
241000
251000
261000
271000
281000
291000
301000
31991

Wind in March

Winds average 8 mph in March, the windiest month of the year.

Across March, daily wind ranges from about 8 mph on the calmest days to 9 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
18light breeze
28light breeze
39light breeze
49light breeze
59light breeze
69light breeze
79light breeze
89light breeze
99light breeze
109light breeze
118light breeze
128light breeze
138light breeze
148light breeze
158light breeze
168light breeze
178light breeze
188light breeze
198light breeze
208light breeze
218light breeze
228light breeze
238light breeze
248light breeze
258light breeze
268light breeze
278light breeze
288light breeze
298light breeze
308light breeze
318light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in March

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 10 h 54 min at the start of March to 12 h 24 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 90 minutes over March. Sunrise moves from 6:31 AM to 5:39 AM, and sunset from 5:26 PM to 6:02 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.96:315:26
211.06:305:27
311.06:285:29
411.16:265:30
511.16:255:31
611.26:235:32
711.26:215:34
811.36:205:35
911.36:185:36
1011.36:165:37
1111.46:155:38
1211.46:135:40
1311.56:115:41
1411.56:095:42
1511.66:085:43
1611.66:065:44
1711.76:045:46
1811.76:025:47
1911.86:015:48
2011.85:595:49
2111.95:575:50
2211.95:555:51
2312.05:535:53
2412.05:525:54
2512.15:505:55
2612.15:485:56
2712.25:465:57
2812.25:445:58
2912.35:436:00
3012.35:416:01
3112.45:396:02

Solar energy in March

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in March, about 3.88 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.59 kWh/m² to a high of 5.9 kWh/m² in July across the year — March's 3.88 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

012345151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
13.3Moderate
23.3Moderate
33.4Moderate
43.4Moderate
53.5Moderate
63.5Moderate
73.5Moderate
83.6Moderate
93.6Moderate
103.7Moderate
113.7Moderate
123.8Moderate
133.8Moderate
143.9Moderate
153.9Moderate
164.0Moderate
174.0Bright
184.0Bright
194.1Bright
204.1Bright
214.1Bright
224.2Bright
234.2Bright
244.2Bright
254.2Bright
264.2Bright
274.3Bright
284.3Bright
294.3Bright
304.3Bright
314.3Bright
Planning a trip in March

Hazard calendar for Chelmsford

In seasonPeak

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

Chelmsford 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 Chelmsford?

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

1.0
Sightseeing
9th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
9th-best month of the year

March is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Chelmsford.

What to pack for Chelmsford in March

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

In March, Chelmsford sees daytime highs around 45°F and nights near 30°F. Pack a warm layer. Worth having: a heavy coat and rain gear. About 11 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain gear

Sea temperature near Chelmsford in March

The nearest coast averages about 38°F 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 29 mi away) is warmest in August at about 66°F and coldest in February near 38°F.

The water stays below 68°F all year — cool enough that most swimmers want a wetsuit.

40°50°60°70°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshing
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan41Bracing
Feb38Bracing
Mar38Bracing
Apr42Bracing
May50Bracing
Jun58Bracing
Jul65Cool
Aug66Cool
Sep63Cool
Oct56Bracing
Nov50Bracing
Dec46Bracing

UV index in Chelmsford in March

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in March peaks around 4 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Chelmsford peaks around July 10 at about 7 (very high) — sunscreen and a hat are worth it in the middle of the day. It bottoms out near January 1 at about 1 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLowModerateHighVery highHighHighModerateLowJul 10UV 7Jan 1UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan1Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr5High
May7Very high
Jun7Very high
Jul7Very high
Aug5Moderate
Sep6High
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec1Low

Air quality in Chelmsford 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 Chelmsford is worst in July — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.0× the cleanest month (November, 8 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1715 µg/m³Nov 188 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan9Good
Feb13Moderate
Mar13Moderate
Apr13Moderate
May14Moderate
Jun13Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug14Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct9Good
Nov8Good
Dec9Good
Location & terrain

Where is Chelmsford?

Chelmsford sits at 42.6°N, 71.4°W, 246 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Lowell, 3.7 mi away.

Topography around Chelmsford

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Chelmsford.

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Chelmsford has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 318 ft around an average of 210 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 515 ft; within 50 miles, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 3,176 ft.

The land around Chelmsford is covered by trees (79%) within 2 miles, trees (80%) within 10 miles, and trees (75%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
318 ft
10 miles
515 ft
50 miles
3,176 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswaterwetland
March weather nearby: Lowell 3.7 mi · Westford 3.7 mi · Billerica 5.6 mi · Dracut 5.6 mi · Tewksbury 6.8 mi · Acton 8.7 mi · Concord 9.9 mi · Wilmington 11 mi

United States travel facts

Power plugs
Type A / B
120 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 100% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$90,027
2025
Happiness
6.8 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
98%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
5.8
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
12.7
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
Religion
Protestant 47%unaffiliated 23%Roman Catholic 21%Jewish 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 Chelmsford (42.5998°, -71.3673°, elevation 246 ft), 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).