Madison weather in March

In March, Madison sees average daytime highs of 43°F and overnight lows near 34°F, with 4.8 in of precipitation across 10.5 wet days and about 11.7 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 40°F in the first days to 46°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 31% of the time in March, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 11 hours at the start of March to 12 h 24 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, March is Madison's 9th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Madison's year-round climate.

Daytime high
43°
10th warmest
Overnight low
34°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
4.8 in
10.5 wet days
Daylight
11 h 42 min
6:10 AM – 5:50 PM
Cloud cover
60%
9th clearest
Wind
12 mph
5th windiest
Solar energy
4.09 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.5
out of 10

Madison is town in Connecticut, United States.

Founded
1826

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 40°F in the first days to 46°F by the end.

A typical March day in Madison reaches about 43°F in the afternoon and slips back to 34°F overnight — a 9°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 35°F and 50°F. Set against its neighbours, March runs about 5°F warmer than February and about 9°F cooler than April.

20°30°40°50°60°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
14031
24031
34031
44031
54031
64131
74131
84132
94132
104132
114132
124233
134233
144233
154233
164233
174334
184334
194334
204334
214435
224435
234435
244436
254536
264536
274537
284637
294637
304638
314738

How March really feels in Madison

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.

Madison weather by month

How March compares with the rest of the year at a glance. March is the 10th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan37° / 28°3.910.24.69.40.0
Feb38° / 28°3.58.94.110.30.0
Mar43° / 34°4.810.53.411.70.5
Apr51° / 42°4.211.10.513.12.5
May60° / 51°3.510.8014.34.7
Jun70° / 61°3.79.5014.96.5
Jul76° / 68°3.19.1014.77.1
Aug76° / 68°3.99.3013.77.2
Sep71° / 63°4.18.8012.36.9
Oct62° / 53°4.89.90.110.95.3
Nov52° / 43°4.19.10.59.72.8
Dec43° / 34°5.011.12.99.10.5

Cloud cover in March

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 31% of the time in March.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 15% of March, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 54%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14555
24654
34654
44654
54654
64753
74753
84654
94753
104852
114852
124852
134852
144852
154852
164852
174852
184753
194753
204654
214654
224654
234555
244555
254456
264456
274456
284357
294357
304357
314357

Chance of precipitation in March

Any precipitationSnow

Madison gets around 4.8 in of rain and snow over 10.5 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 34% and peaks near 37% on the wettest days, and about 3 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
13614
23514
33514
43514
53513
63413
73413
83413
93312
103312
113212
123212
133212
143212
153112
163112
173111
183211
193211
203210
213210
223310
23349
24349
25358
26367
27367
28366
29376
30375
31375

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 12 mph in March.

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

051015151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
113breezy
213breezy
313breezy
413breezy
513breezy
613breezy
713breezy
813breezy
913breezy
1013breezy
1113breezy
1213breezy
1313breezy
1413breezy
1513breezy
1613breezy
1712breezy
1812breezy
1912light breeze
2012light breeze
2112light breeze
2212light breeze
2312light breeze
2412light breeze
2512light breeze
2612light breeze
2712light breeze
2812light breeze
2912light breeze
3012light breeze
3112light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in March

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 hours 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 84 minutes over March. Sunrise moves from 6:35 AM to 5:44 AM, and sunset from 5:33 PM to 6:06 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.06:355:33
211.06:335:34
311.16:325:35
411.16:305:36
511.16:285:37
611.26:275:38
711.26:255:40
811.36:245:41
911.36:225:42
1011.46:205:43
1111.46:195:44
1211.56:175:45
1311.56:155:46
1411.66:145:48
1511.66:125:49
1611.76:105:50
1711.76:095:51
1811.86:075:52
1911.86:055:53
2011.86:035:54
2111.96:025:55
2211.96:005:56
2312.05:585:58
2412.05:575:59
2512.15:556:00
2612.15:536:01
2712.25:516:02
2812.25:506:03
2912.35:486:04
3012.35:466:05
3112.45:446:06

Solar energy in March

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in March, about 4.09 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.72 kWh/m² to a high of 6.3 kWh/m² in June across the year — March's 4.09 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

024151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
13.5Moderate
23.5Moderate
33.6Moderate
43.6Moderate
53.7Moderate
63.7Moderate
73.8Moderate
83.8Moderate
93.9Moderate
103.9Moderate
114.0Moderate
124.0Bright
134.0Bright
144.1Bright
154.1Bright
164.2Bright
174.2Bright
184.2Bright
194.3Bright
204.3Bright
214.3Bright
224.3Bright
234.4Bright
244.4Bright
254.4Bright
264.4Bright
274.5Bright
284.5Bright
294.5Bright
304.5Bright
314.6Bright
Planning a trip in March

Hazard calendar for Madison

In seasonPeak

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

Madison 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 Madison?

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

0.5
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 Madison.

What to pack for Madison in March

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

In March, Madison sees daytime highs around 43°F and nights near 34°F. Pack a warm layer. Worth having: a heavy coat, rain gear and a windbreaker. About 11 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain geara windbreaker

Sea temperature near Madison 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 11 mi away) is warmest in August at about 72°F and coldest in February near 36°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 8 to Sep 25 — about 2.6 months when the water holds above 68°F.

30°40°50°60°70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan40Bracing
Feb36Bracing
Mar38Bracing
Apr44Bracing
May53Bracing
Jun63Cool
Jul70Refreshing
Aug72Refreshing
Sep70Refreshing
Oct64Cool
Nov55Bracing
Dec47Bracing

UV index in Madison 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 Madison peaks around July 10 at about 8 (very high) — sunscreen and a hat are worth it in the middle of the day. It bottoms out near December 22 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 highHighModerateLowJul 10UV 8Dec 22UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr6High
May7Very high
Jun8Very high
Jul8Very high
Aug6High
Sep6High
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec1Low

Air quality in Madison 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 Madison is worst in July — around 20 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.7× the cleanest month (November, 8 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1120 µg/m³Nov 188 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan10Good
Feb13Moderate
Mar14Moderate
Apr16Moderate
May19Moderate
Jun20Moderate
Jul20Moderate
Aug17Moderate
Sep13Moderate
Oct9Good
Nov8Good
Dec9Good
Location & terrain

Where is Madison?

Madison sits at 41.3°N, 72.6°W, 23 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Guilford, 4.3 mi away.

Topography around Madison

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Madison has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 187 ft around an average of 46 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 653 ft; within 50 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,503 ft.

The land around Madison is covered by trees (55%) and water (30%) within 2 miles, trees (49%) and water (45%) within 10 miles, and trees (54%) and water (39%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
187 ft
10 miles
653 ft
50 miles
1,503 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswaterwetland
March weather nearby: Guilford 4.3 mi · Branford 11 mi · East Haven 14 mi · North Haven 16 mi · Wallingford Center 16 mi · Wallingford 17 mi · New Haven 17 mi · Hamden 17 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 Madison (41.2795°, -72.5984°, elevation 23 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).