March can offer it all. A true transition month, it has delivered heat, cold and snow — sometimes all within a single day. It’s one of the most volatile stretches of the year in D.C., where winter can make a last stand even as spring begins to break through.
Normal and record daily temperatures
March begins with average highs near 52 and lows around 35 degrees. By month’s end, those climb to about 62 and 43 — a steady march toward spring.
The extremes are wide: 93 degrees (March 23, 1907) to 4 degrees (March 4, 1873).
Even early in the month, warmth can surge. In 2026, an 86-degree high on March 11 was the warmest so early in the year.
Record daily precipitation
Although March marks the start of the transition to spring, it still retains some winter characteristics — including relatively limited moisture.
As a result, the month’s record daily precipitation is modest compared to later in the year: 2.79 inches on March 9, 1881.
Record daily snowfall
Snow chances decline quickly through March in the current climate, although it was more common earlier in the historical record. Daily snowfall records are generally higher in the first third of the month than later on.
Still, the month’s biggest snow came near its end: 11.5 inches on March 29, 1942.
Monthly temperatures by year
Temperatures warm fairly quickly in March. The average of 47.6 degrees is about 7.5 degrees higher than February, marking one of the sharper month-to-month increases of the year.
The range is wide: March has averaged as warm as 56.8 degrees (2012) and as cold as 35.6 degrees (1960).
Over the long term, March temperatures have risen by about 6 degrees since the early 1900s.
Monthly precipitation by year
March is a relatively wet month, especially compared with those that come before it, averaging about 3.5 inches. Increasing warmth allows for more moisture, and coastal storms can be frequent in some years.
Totals have ranged widely — from 8.84 inches in 1891 to just 0.05 inches in 2006.
Over the long term, March precipitation is somewhat lower than around the early 1900s, although it has been fairly steady for much of the record.
Monthly snowfall by year
March is typically the final month of the snow season in D.C.’s current climate, averaging about 2 inches (1991–2020 normals).
Snowfall can still vary widely. A record 19.3 inches fell in 1914, while many years see no accumulation at all.
As a shoulder-season month, March snowfall has declined notably over time — from around 5 inches in the early 1900s to less than 2 inches today.
Last freeze of season, trending earlier
A major reason March snowfall has declined is warming temperatures tied to urbanization and climate change. The last freeze of the season now arrives about 2.5 weeks earlier than it did in the early 1900s.
On average, the final freeze occurs around March 23. The earliest on record came on Feb. 27, 2010 — notably during D.C.’s snowiest winter.
Events of note
March 2, 2018. A long-duration windstorm produced 12 to 24 hours of gusts over 50 mph. Dulles Airport recorded a peak gust of 71 mph.
March 4, 1909. A record 9.8 inches of snow fell on the day of President Taft’s inauguration. High winds created blizzard-like conditions; the ceremony moved indoors, but the parade went on.
March 5–7, 1941. The Ash Wednesday storm caused widespread coastal damage and killed 40 people in the region. It brought a few inches of wet snow to D.C. and up to 42 inches in the mountains to the west.
March 6, 2013. The “Snowquester” bust: 5 to 10 inches was forecast, but only a trace fell inside the Beltway.
March 11, 1888. Part of the Blizzard of 1888, a record 6 inches fell in D.C. as the city sat on the southern edge of the historic storm that hammered the Northeast.
March 12, 2026. Temperatures plunged 53 degrees in 24 hours — from a record 86 degrees to 33 degrees with accumulating snow — among the largest drops on record.
March 13, 1993. The “Storm of the Century” brought 6.6 inches to D.C. and over a foot just west, with widespread impacts across the East, including heavy snow, severe weather and damaging winds.
March 19, 1936. The Potomac River reached its second-highest level on record, flooding large areas near the waterfront.
March 29, 1942. The Palm Sunday storm dumped 11.5 inches, the largest snowfall so late in the season. Totals reached 18 inches in parts of the region.
