If you plan to visit Chicago in March, the weather is typically alright, with an average high temperature of +43°F during the day and approximately 3 sunny days. Expect some rainy, though, as there are typically 7 rainy days in the month and around 50 mm of precipitation. The weather is changeable so you may have to pack for every eventuality. Search flightsin one click on Avionero.
Average weather
☀️
+43°F
Avg. max. temperature
-4°F
Min.
+77°F
Max.
50 mm
Total precipitation
68%
Avg. humidity
4 m/s
Avg. wind
3 ☀️
Sunny Days
13 ⛅️
Cloudy
7 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Chicago has OK weather in March.
Average temperature in Chicago in March
Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Chicago for March based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Going from a maximum of +63°F during the day to a minimum of +12°F during the night, the temperature in March averages around +46°F.
The average maximum temperature goes up 11% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +57°F to +63°F.
Is Chicago warm or cold in March?
Chicago is typically chill in March.
Maximum temperatures go up compared to the previous month from +34°F to +43°F. The minimum temperature also goes up from +23°F to +30°F.
Pack a jumper and a jacket as there will be cooler temperatures.
Take a look at how March is compared to other months in Chicago:
Water temperature in Chicago in March
Water in Chicago in March is Cold. It varies from +35°F to +40°F, with an average of +38°F.This is almost similar to the air temperature, which averages +43°F.
The water temperature in March is one of the coldest of the entire year:
The warmest water temperatures in Chicago are reached in August, when the average sea temperature rises to +74°F. The coldest water temperatures are in February, with an average of +37°F.
Can you swim in Chicago in March?
We would not recommend swimming in Chicago in March, the water is very cold (+38°F on average). Consider swimming only if you are an experienced cold-water swimmer with proper gear.
🦭
Cold
Below +61°F
🏄♂️
Fresh
61°F - 70°F
🏊
Comfortable
70°F - 77°F
👙
Warm
77°F - 82°F
🔥
Very warm
+82°C and up
You will need a full-body wetsuit, cap, gloves, a warm change of clothes, and a hot drink ready for after your swim.
Climate in Chicago in March
Chicago weather looks like this, on average, in March and the surrounding months.
February
March
April
Avg. temperature
+34°F
+43°F
+54°F
Min. temperature
-15°F
-4°F
+18°F
Max. temperature
+64°F
+77°F
+86°F
Rainfall
21 mm
50 mm
93 mm
Wind
4 m/s
4 m/s
4 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+37°F
+38°F
+41°F
Humidity
71%
68%
64%
Air pressure
1018 HPa
1017 HPa
1014 HPa
Sunny days
3
3
4
Cloudy days
13
13
10
Rainy days
2
7
12
Snowy days
9
6
2
March weather is still as ok as in February.It’s getting warmer as March arrives. The average maximum temperature goes up from +34°F to +43°F during the day.Prepare for more rain. Average rainfall goes from 21 mm to 50 mm.It feels drier, as humidity decreases from 71% to 68%.The average wind speed doesn’t change much during March, staying around 4 m/s.The amount of sunny days stay about the same, averaging 3 sunny days during the month.
April brings much the same weather, it remains ok.
Wind speed in Chicago in March based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The average wind speed is 5 m/s getting up to 8 m/s which is a medium breeze. You can feel it, especially getting out of the water.
The average wind speed in Chicago is gradually increasing during March, going from 4 m/s to 8 m/s over the course of the month.
Rain
Amount of rainfall in mm during March in Chicago based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Typically, there is a 55% chance of rain on an average day in March, with total rainfall of approximately 129 mm. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 17 mm, which is considered light rain.March is a pretty wet month with over 17 rainy days, so don’t forget to pack an umbrella, raincoat, and a pair of wellies.
Here’s how March is compared with other months in the amount of precipitation, total mm:
Chicago wettest month is May, where a typical day has a 42% chance of precipitation and 101 mm of rainfall per day. February, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 7% chance of precipitation and 21 mm of rainfall per day.
Snow
Amount of snow in mm during March in Chicago based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Typically, there is a 10% chance of snow on an average day in March, with a total monthly snowfall of approximately 18 mm.
Here’s how March is compared with other months in the amount of snow, total mm:
How was the weather last March in Chicago?
This is the weather in Chicago in March 2023:
1 March
☀️
+57°F
2 March
☁️
+49°F
3 March
☁️
+37°F
4 March
🌫️
+50°F
5 March
☁️
+46°F
6 March
☁️
+52°F
7 March
☁️
+44°F
8 March
☁️
+43°F
9 March
☁️
+40°F
10 March
🌫️
+38°F
11 March
☁️
+39°F
12 March
🌨️
+38°F
13 March
🌨️
+35°F
14 March
☀️
+35°F
15 March
☀️
+50°F
16 March
☁️
+48°F
17 March
☁️
+50°F
18 March
🌨️
+30°F
19 March
☀️
+40°F
20 March
☁️
+51°F
21 March
☁️
+54°F
22 March
🌫️
+51°F
23 March
🌫️
+49°F
24 March
☁️
+43°F
25 March
🌧️
+46°F
26 March
☀️
+44°F
27 March
☀️
+43°F
28 March
☀️
+51°F
29 March
☀️
+48°F
30 March
☀️
+50°F
31 March
🌧️
+62°F
In March 2023 Chicago had 9 sunny days, 13 cloudy days, and 2 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +46°F, with an absolute maximum of +63°F and a minimum of +30°F. The average humidity was 73%, with a maximum of 97% and a minimum of 34%. The average wind speed was 5 m/s, with a maximum of 14 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in March?
Climate Change Over the Years
This is how Chicago climate has changed over the last 43 years.
The climate in Chicago in March has not changed that much over the last 43 years.
The average temperature was the lowest in 1979 (+54°F) and the highest in 2012 (+63°F). The driest year was 2005 with only 501 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2023 with 1535 mm.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the weather in Chicago in March:
Is March a good time to visit Chicago?
It’s always a good time to visit Chicago, but the weather is changeable in March, so plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities and exploring, and pack for every eventuality.
Can you sunbathe in Chicago in March?
Not really, March is not the best time to sunbathe, unless you visit a local solarium.
Can you swim in Chicago in March?
Swimming in Chicago in March is challenging and not recommended for inexperienced swimmers or without proper equipment and preparation.
Is Chicago rainy in March?
Chicago is often rainy in March. You may get a bit damp when outside, so pack an umbrella, and maybe even a raincoat.
Is it sunny in Chicago in March?
Usually, it’s not very sunny in Chicago in March, often it’s pretty cloudy. Pack for any eventuality; layering can help reduce the number of bulky items needed.
For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Chicago, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2023.
For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.
