Scranton weather in March

In March, Scranton sees average daytime highs of 44°F and overnight lows near 28°F, with 3.6 in of precipitation across 11.4 wet days and about 11.7 hours of daylight. It is the 9th-warmest and 4th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 40°F in the first days to 49°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 19% 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 Scranton's 9th-clearest and 1st-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Scranton's year-round climate.

Daytime high
44°
9th warmest
Overnight low
28°
4th coldest
Precipitation
3.6 in
11.4 wet days
Daylight
11 h 42 min
6:23 AM – 6:02 PM
Cloud cover
69%
9th clearest
Wind
8 mph
1st windiest
Solar energy
3.92 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.8
out of 10

Scranton is city in and county seat of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States.

Density
1,166/km²
people per km²
Founded
1856

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 49°F by the end.

A typical March day in Scranton reaches about 44°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 59°F. Set against its neighbours, March runs about 9°F warmer than February and about 13°F cooler than April.

20°40°60°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
13923
23923
34024
44024
54024
64124
74124
84125
94225
104225
114226
124226
134326
144326
154327
164427
174428
184428
194528
204529
214629
224629
234630
244730
254731
264831
274832
284932
294933
304933
315033

How March really feels in Scranton

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.

Scranton weather by month

How March compares with the rest of the year at a glance. March is the 9th-warmest and 4th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan33° / 19°3.09.46.99.40.0
Feb35° / 20°2.595.810.30.0
Mar44° / 28°3.611.4511.70.8
Apr57° / 39°3.511.71.513.13.7
May67° / 49°3.512.60.114.35.7
Jun76° / 58°3.812014.96.4
Jul80° / 62°3.010.9014.76.4
Aug78° / 61°3.39.9013.76.7
Sep71° / 54°3.79.3012.36.7
Oct59° / 43°3.79.60.510.94.6
Nov47° / 33°3.08.71.89.71.6
Dec37° / 25°3.310.55.59.10.0

Cloud cover in March

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 19% 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 66%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
13367
23268
33268
43268
53367
63367
73367
83367
93466
103466
113466
123466
133466
143466
153466
163367
173367
183367
193466
203466
213466
223565
233565
243565
253565
263664
273664
283664
293664
303664
313664

Chance of precipitation in March

Any precipitationSnow

Scranton gets around 3.6 in of rain and snow over 11.4 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 36% and peaks near 40% on the wettest days, and about 5 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
13619
23619
33619
43619
53618
63618
73618
83518
93518
103518
113518
123518
133518
143518
153517
163517
173517
183516
193516
203516
213615
223615
233714
243814
253813
263912
273912
284011
294011
304011
314010

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

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 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 6:47 AM to 5:57 AM, and sunset from 5:45 PM to 6:19 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.06:475:45
211.06:465:46
311.06:445:47
411.16:425:48
511.16:415:49
611.26:395:51
711.26:385:52
811.36:365:53
911.36:345:54
1011.46:335:55
1111.46:315:56
1211.56:295:57
1311.56:285:59
1411.66:266:00
1511.66:246:01
1611.76:236:02
1711.76:216:03
1811.86:196:04
1911.86:176:05
2011.86:166:06
2111.96:146:08
2211.96:126:09
2312.06:116:10
2412.06:096:11
2512.16:076:12
2612.16:056:13
2712.26:046:14
2812.26:026:15
2912.36:006:16
3012.35:586:18
3112.45:576:19

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 1.55 kWh/m² to a high of 5.95 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
83.6Moderate
93.7Moderate
103.7Moderate
113.8Moderate
123.8Moderate
133.9Moderate
143.9Moderate
153.9Moderate
164.0Moderate
174.0Bright
184.0Bright
194.1Bright
204.1Bright
214.1Bright
224.2Bright
234.2Bright
244.2Bright
254.2Bright
264.3Bright
274.3Bright
284.3Bright
294.3Bright
304.3Bright
314.4Bright
Planning a trip in March

Is March a good time to visit Scranton?

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

0.8
Sightseeing
9th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
8th-best month of the year

March is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Scranton.

What to pack for Scranton in March

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

In March, Scranton sees daytime highs around 44°F and nights near 28°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. Worth having: rain gear. About 11 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain gear

UV index in Scranton in March

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in March peaks around 5 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Scranton peaks around July 11 at about 8 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 23 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 11UV 8Dec 23UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr6High
May8Very high
Jun8Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug6High
Sep6High
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec1Low

Air quality in Scranton 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 Scranton is worst in July — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.3× the cleanest month (November, 7 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1416 µg/m³Nov 147 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan9Good
Feb11Good
Mar11Good
Apr12Good
May15Moderate
Jun15Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug13Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct7Good
Nov7Good
Dec8Good
Location & terrain

Where is Scranton?

Scranton sits at 41.4°N, 75.7°W, 755 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Wilkes-Barre, 16 mi away.

Topography around Scranton

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Scranton has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 732 ft around an average of 866 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,762 ft; within 50 miles, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,559 ft.

The land around Scranton is covered by artificial surfaces (54%) and trees (39%) within 2 miles, trees (72%) within 10 miles, and trees (83%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
732 ft
10 miles
1,762 ft
50 miles
2,559 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
March weather nearby: Wilkes-Barre 16 mi · Back Mountain 18 mi · Hazleton 35 mi · Binghamton 49 mi · Vestal 51 mi · Whitehall Township 52 mi · Easton 55 mi · Allentown 56 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 Scranton (41.4092°, -75.6649°, elevation 755 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. 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).