Providence weather in March

In March, Providence sees average daytime highs of 46°F and overnight lows near 31°F, with 4.4 in of precipitation across 10.7 wet days and about 11.7 hours of daylight. It is the 9th-warmest and 1st-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 42°F in the first days to 50°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 27% 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 Providence's 9th-clearest and 1st-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Providence's year-round climate.

Daytime high
46°
9th warmest
Overnight low
31°
4th coldest
Precipitation
4.4 in
10.7 wet days
Daylight
11 h 42 min
6:06 AM – 5:45 PM
Cloud cover
63%
9th clearest
Wind
8 mph
1st windiest
Solar energy
3.92 kWh/m²
Travel score
1.2
out of 10

Providence is capital city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island and seat of Providence County.

Density
3,584/km²
people per km²
Founded
1636

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 42°F in the first days to 50°F by the end.

A typical March day in Providence reaches about 46°F in the afternoon and slips back to 31°F overnight — a 15°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 35°F and 58°F. Set against its neighbours, March runs about 7°F warmer than February and about 11°F cooler than April.

20°40°60°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
14227
24228
34228
44328
54328
64328
74329
84429
94429
104429
114429
124530
134530
144530
154531
164631
174631
184631
194732
204732
214733
224733
234833
244834
254934
264934
274935
285035
295035
305136
315136

How March really feels in Providence

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.

Providence 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
Jan37° / 23°3.6105.29.30.0
Feb39° / 24°3.18.64.810.30.0
Mar46° / 31°4.410.74.311.71.2
Apr57° / 41°3.810.80.713.13.9
May67° / 50°3.110.8014.35.9
Jun76° / 60°3.510.10156.7
Jul82° / 66°3.210.6014.76.3
Aug80° / 64°3.810.3013.76.5
Sep73° / 57°3.68.3012.37.0
Oct62° / 47°4.19.30.210.95.4
Nov51° / 37°3.58.80.89.62.7
Dec42° / 29°4.310.4490.3

Cloud cover in March

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 27% 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 58%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14357
24357
34357
44456
54456
64357
74357
84357
94357
104357
114357
124456
134456
144456
154357
164357
174357
184357
194258
204159
214159
224159
234159
244060
254060
264060
274060
283961
293961
303961
313961

Chance of precipitation in March

Any precipitationSnow

Providence gets around 4.4 in of rain and snow over 10.7 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 34% and peaks near 36% on the wettest days, and about 4 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
13519
23518
33518
43518
53518
63517
73517
83517
93516
103416
113415
123415
133314
143314
153314
163313
173313
183313
193312
203312
213312
223311
233311
243410
253410
26359
27359
28358
29368
30367
31367

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
23991
24991
25991
26991
27991
281000
291000
301000
311000

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
19light breeze
29light breeze
39light breeze
49light breeze
59light breeze
69light breeze
79light breeze
89light breeze
99light breeze
109light breeze
119light breeze
129light breeze
139light breeze
149light breeze
159light 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 5:27 PM to 6:02 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.96:315:27
211.06:295:28
311.06:275:30
411.16:265:31
511.16:245:32
611.26:235:33
711.26:215:34
811.36:195:36
911.36:185:37
1011.46:165:38
1111.46:145:39
1211.56:135:40
1311.56:115:41
1411.66:095:43
1511.66:075:44
1611.76:065:45
1711.76:045:46
1811.76:025:47
1911.86:015:48
2011.85:595:49
2111.95:575:51
2211.95:555:52
2312.05:545:53
2412.05:525:54
2512.15:505:55
2612.15:485:56
2712.25:465:57
2812.25:455:58
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 3.92 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.66 kWh/m² to a high of 5.93 kWh/m² in June across the year — March's 3.92 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

012345151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
13.4Moderate
23.4Moderate
33.4Moderate
43.5Moderate
53.5Moderate
63.6Moderate
73.6Moderate
83.7Moderate
93.7Moderate
103.8Moderate
113.8Moderate
123.8Moderate
133.9Moderate
143.9Moderate
154.0Moderate
164.0Bright
174.0Bright
184.1Bright
194.1Bright
204.1Bright
214.1Bright
224.2Bright
234.2Bright
244.2Bright
254.2Bright
264.2Bright
274.3Bright
284.3Bright
294.3Bright
304.3Bright
314.4Bright
Planning a trip in March

Hazard calendar for Providence

In seasonPeak

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

Providence 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 Providence?

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

1.2
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 Providence.

What to pack for Providence in March

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

In March, Providence sees daytime highs around 46°F and nights near 31°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 Providence 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 31 mi away) is warmest in August at about 70°F and coldest in February near 37°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 16 to Sep 8 — about 1.8 months when the water holds above 68°F.

30°40°50°60°70°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan41Bracing
Feb37Bracing
Mar38Bracing
Apr44Bracing
May53Bracing
Jun61Cool
Jul68Refreshing
Aug70Refreshing
Sep67Cool
Oct62Cool
Nov54Bracing
Dec47Bracing

UV index in Providence 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 Providence 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 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 highHighModerateLowJul 10UV 8Jan 1UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan1Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr5High
May8Very high
Jun7Very high
Jul8Very high
Aug5Moderate
Sep6High
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec1Low

Air quality in Providence 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 Providence is worst in July — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 1.9× the cleanest month (November, 8 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1516 µg/m³Nov 189 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan10Good
Feb13Moderate
Mar14Moderate
Apr14Moderate
May15Moderate
Jun15Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug14Moderate
Sep12Good
Oct10Good
Nov8Good
Dec10Good
Location & terrain

Where is Providence?

Providence sits at 41.8°N, 71.4°W, 7 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is East Providence, 2.5 mi away.

Topography around Providence

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Providence has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 217 ft around an average of 69 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 584 ft; within 50 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,585 ft.

The land around Providence is covered by artificial surfaces (67%) within 2 miles, trees (60%) within 10 miles, and trees (64%) and water (27%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
217 ft
10 miles
584 ft
50 miles
1,585 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetland
March weather nearby: East Providence 2.5 mi · North Providence 3.1 mi · Cranston 3.1 mi · Pawtucket 4.3 mi · Central Falls 5.0 mi · Johnston 5.0 mi · Lincoln 6.8 mi · Barrington 8.1 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 Providence (41.824°, -71.4128°, elevation 7 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).