Portage weather in March

In March, Portage sees average daytime highs of 45°F and overnight lows near 28°F, with 2.7 in of precipitation across 10.2 wet days and about 11.6 hours of daylight. It is the 9th-warmest and 10th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 39°F in the first days to 51°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 21% 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 Portage's 8th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Portage's year-round climate.

Daytime high
45°
9th warmest
Overnight low
28°
4th coldest
Precipitation
2.7 in
10.2 wet days
Daylight
11 h 36 min
7:03 AM – 6:41 PM
Cloud cover
68%
8th clearest
Wind
8 mph
5th windiest
Solar energy
4 kWh/m²
Travel score
1.0
out of 10

Portage is city in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, United States of America.

Density
529/km²
people per km²
Founded
1830

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 39°F in the first days to 51°F by the end.

A typical March day in Portage reaches about 45°F in the afternoon and slips back to 28°F overnight — a 17°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 31°F and 61°F. Set against its neighbours, March runs about 11°F warmer than February and about 13°F cooler than April.

20°40°60°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
13823
23823
33923
43923
53924
64024
74024
84125
94125
104226
114226
124326
134327
144427
154428
164528
174528
184629
194629
204729
214730
224730
234831
244831
254931
264932
275032
285033
295133
305133
315133

How March really feels in Portage

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
3 feel bitter (≤ 14°F)

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

Portage 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 (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan31° / 19°2.811.310.49.30.0
Feb34° / 20°2.28.36.610.30.0
Mar45° / 28°2.710.24.411.61.0
Apr57° / 39°3.912.71.413.13.8
May68° / 49°4.413.1014.45.8
Jun78° / 59°4.311.70156.4
Jul81° / 63°4.011.4014.86.3
Aug79° / 61°3.811.1013.76.6
Sep73° / 54°3.19.7012.36.8
Oct60° / 43°3.4110.210.84.6
Nov46° / 33°2.810.139.61.3
Dec36° / 25°2.5117.990.0

Cloud cover in March

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 21% of the time in March.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 12% of March, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 66%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
12971
22971
33070
43070
53169
63367
73367
83367
93466
103664
113664
123664
133664
143763
153763
163664
173664
183763
193664
203664
213565
223565
233565
243466
253466
263466
273268
283268
293268
303268
313268

Chance of precipitation in March

Any precipitationSnow

Portage gets around 2.7 in of rain and snow over 10.2 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 33% and peaks near 38% on the wettest days, and about 4 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
13423
23423
33322
43321
53321
63220
73219
83218
93118
103117
113116
123116
133115
143214
153214
163213
173213
183213
193212
203312
213311
223411
233411
243410
253510
26359
27369
28368
29378
30388
31388

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 99% 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
9991
10991
11991
12991
13991
14982
15982
16982
17982
18982
19982
20982
21973
22973
23973
24973
25973
26982
27982
28982
29982
30982
31982

Wind in March

Winds average 8 mph in March.

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

051015151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
18light breeze
28light breeze
38light breeze
48light breeze
58light breeze
68light breeze
78light breeze
88light breeze
98light breeze
108light 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 7:28 AM to 6:36 AM, and sunset from 6:23 PM to 6:59 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.97:286:23
211.07:266:25
311.07:246:26
411.17:236:27
511.17:216:28
611.27:206:30
711.27:186:31
811.37:166:32
911.37:156:33
1011.47:136:34
1111.47:116:35
1211.57:106:37
1311.57:086:38
1411.57:066:39
1511.67:046:40
1611.67:036:41
1711.77:016:43
1811.76:596:44
1911.86:576:45
2011.86:566:46
2111.96:546:47
2211.96:526:48
2312.06:506:49
2412.06:486:51
2512.16:476:52
2612.16:456:53
2712.26:436:54
2812.26:416:55
2912.36:406:56
3012.36:386:57
3112.46:366:59

Solar energy in March

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in March, about 4 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.4 kWh/m² to a high of 6.36 kWh/m² in June across the year — March's 4 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

012345151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
13.4Moderate
23.4Moderate
33.5Moderate
43.5Moderate
53.6Moderate
63.6Moderate
73.7Moderate
83.7Moderate
93.8Moderate
103.8Moderate
113.9Moderate
123.9Moderate
134.0Moderate
144.0Moderate
154.0Bright
164.0Bright
174.1Bright
184.1Bright
194.1Bright
204.2Bright
214.2Bright
224.2Bright
234.2Bright
244.3Bright
254.3Bright
264.3Bright
274.3Bright
284.3Bright
294.4Bright
304.4Bright
314.4Bright
Planning a trip in March

Is March a good time to visit Portage?

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 Portage.

What to pack for Portage in March

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

In March, Portage sees daytime highs around 45°F and nights near 28°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. Worth having: rain gear. About 10 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain gear

Sea temperature near Portage in March

The nearest coast averages about 36°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 42 mi away) is warmest in August at about 72°F and coldest in March near 36°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 14 to Sep 13 — about 2 months when the water holds above 68°F.

30°40°50°60°70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan39Bracing
Feb37Bracing
Mar36Bracing
Apr39Bracing
May45Bracing
Jun58Bracing
Jul69Refreshing
Aug72Refreshing
Sep68Cool
Oct59Bracing
Nov49Bracing
Dec43Bracing

UV index in Portage 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 Portage peaks around June 22 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 21 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 highHighModerateLowJun 22UV 9Dec 21UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb2Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr6High
May7High
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep6High
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec1Low

Air quality in Portage 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 Portage is worst in July — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.1× the cleanest month (October, 8 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1515 µg/m³Oct 228 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan10Good
Feb12Good
Mar13Moderate
Apr12Moderate
May14Moderate
Jun15Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug15Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct8Good
Nov8Good
Dec9Good
Location & terrain

Where is Portage?

Portage sits at 42.2°N, 85.6°W, 879 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Kalamazoo, 6.2 mi away.

Topography around Portage

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Portage has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 141 ft around an average of 876 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 358 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 679 ft.

The land around Portage is covered by trees (50%) and artificial surfaces (23%) within 2 miles, trees (48%) and cropland (24%) within 10 miles, and trees (42%) and cropland (37%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
141 ft
10 miles
358 ft
50 miles
679 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswaterwetland
March weather nearby: Kalamazoo 6.2 mi · Battle Creek 22 mi · Granger 41 mi · Elkhart 41 mi · Goshen 45 mi · Kentwood 47 mi · Mishawaka 48 mi · Holland 48 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 Portage (42.2011°, -85.58°, elevation 879 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. 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).