March is a pivotal month in the UK weather calendar, marking the transition from winter to spring.
It is a month defined by contrasts, milder days can quickly give way to sharp frosts, and tranquil spells may be punctuated by gales or heavy rainfall. The climatological records from across the UK highlight just how varied and dynamic March can be.
Here, we take a closer look at the most significant March extremes on record, showcasing the warmest, coldest, wettest and windiest conditions recorded by our stations during the month.
Warmest March days on record
March is capable of producing early taste‑of‑spring warmth. The highest UK temperature recorded in March is 25.6°C, reached at Mepal in Cambridgeshire on 29 March 1968. This value stands out as a reminder that high pressure, light winds and sunshine can combine to bring notably warm days even before April arrives.
Across the nations, England shares this national record, while Wales has reached 23.9°C (Prestatyn and Ceinws, 29 March 1965). Scotland’s warmest March day reached 23.6°C (Aboyne, 27 March 2012), and Northern Ireland peaked at 21.8°C (Armagh, 29 March 1965).
More recent years have also produced warm March days. In 2025, the highest daily maximum observed was 21.3°C at Chertsey in Surrey and Northolt on 20 March, reflecting the continued variability the month can offer.
You can explore this data using our interactive graph below.
Coldest March nights
Despite these springlike interludes, March can still produce penetrating cold. The UK’s lowest March temperature on record stands at –22.8°C, measured at Logie, Aberdeenshire on 14 March 1958. This value underscores the lingering influence of Arctic air masses and clear, calm nights early in the month.
Other notable low temperatures include –21.7°C at Corwen (Wales, 3 March 1965) and –15.0°C at Ballykelly (Northern Ireland, 3 March 1947). Even into the 2020s, severe cold has been observed. In 2023, for example, Altnaharra in Sutherland dropped to –16.0°C, one of the most significant low temperatures of the decade.
You can explore this data using our interactive graph below.
Wettest March days
As storm systems continue to track across the UK in March, the month can produce some of the heaviest rainfall events of the year. The wettest March day on record for the UK delivered 187.0 mm at Kinloch Hourn (15 March 1990), a remarkable total even by the standards of this famously wet region.
Other significant rainfall events include 177.2 mm at Seathwaite, Cumbria, on 28 March 2021, 118.6 mm at Honister Pass in 2023, and 112 mm at Cwm Dyli in Gwynedd in 2024, reflecting the consistency with which western upland areas receive intense rainfall during vigorous Atlantic weather patterns.
You can explore this data using our interactive graph below.
Strongest March winds
March can often see frequent deep Atlantic low‑pressure systems, which bring with them the potential for strong winds. The strongest UK March gust recorded is 112mph (97 knots) at the Forth Road Bridge, Scotland on 20 March 1986.
England’s windiest March day brought 108mph (94 knots) at Langdon Bay, Kent, in 2008, while Wales recorded 98mph (85 knots) at Rhoose (27 March 1987). Northern Ireland’s strongest March gust reached 90 mph (78 knots) at the Foyle Bridge on 24 March 1988.
Recent examples include 71mph at Lerwick in 2025, demonstrating that strong gales in March remain a familiar feature of the season.
You can explore this data using our interactive graph below.
Snowiest March days
Although snow becomes less frequent as spring approaches, March can still produce significant accumulations. The deepest March snow depth on record in the UK is 76 cm, measured at Bellingham, Northumberland, on 1 March 1963, the closing stages of the notably severe winter of 1962–63.
Scotland has recorded similarly deep snow with 74 cm at Whitchester (1 March 1963). More recent years have seen smaller, but still impactful, snowfalls. In 2023, Buxton reached 32 cm, while sites in Northern Ireland such as Ballypatrick have observed depths over 35 cm in the past decade.
You can explore all of this data using our interactive graph below.
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