March 2026 saw temperatures above the average for both the 1961-1990 and the 1991-2020 average. So a mild month overall. Rainfall wise it was below average for both the 1961-1990 and the 1991-2020 average. It also featured an unnamed storm between the 12th and 13th which was the strongest storm system to hit in over a year. The month was windy at times towards the end and perhaps a hint that the recent decline in windy days maybe reversing.
The month for once had some swings in temperatures but mostly a mild month which didn't feature any cold weather at all just some rather cold days. These were the 6th when 6.4C was the high and the 25th when 6.7C was the high. The 7th didn't badly with 7.7C. The coldest night was the 26th when 1.4C was the low. The month saw day time temperatures mostly in double figures while the nights remained in single figures. The first five days being mild with a very mild 16C being reached on the 5th. A weak attempt at cold spell came from the the 6th to the 8th with single digit maxima before another mild spell from the 9th to the 12th. The mildest part of the month was between the 17th and 19th following three days with double digit highs. The 17th and 19th saw 16.4C followed by 19.6C and then 16.1C. The warmest night for once wasn't in this period this coming on the 24th when 7.9C was the low. Weather turned mild again from the 29th to the 31st ensuring an above average month. The month was the 4th/5th warmest on record. The record of 8.8C in 1961 staying well safe.
March by was a dry month just failing to make the top twenty driest on record. Around 50% of the rain fell with the unnamed storm on the 12th when 26.3mm fell. Before that only 1.4mm fell and after only 6.2mm fell between 13th and the 23rd. Rainfall reached double figures again on the 11th then rainfall again returned to low amounts not getting anywhere near double figures as the moth ended on a unremarkable note.
March bucked the trend in regards to windy weather. 51mph was hit on the 13th during the unnamed storm and 50mph was reached on the 24th. Although only 46mph was recorded on the 25th there was a period where the ten minute average was 31mph when got towards the end of the month. F5 on the 13th was the highest at observation time. The month stayed breezy until the end of the month.
There was some rare Snow in March with Snow falling on the 25th although it didn't settled. It did get down to quite low levels though which was a surprise as it was forecast above 200m at the time. No further Snow fell through the month although we did have a bizarre forecast of Snow early Friday morning. This was for overnight Friday into Saturday. None of the models showed this and indeed this idea was quickly dropped by the next forecast an hour later.
The month didn't see any Thundery showers or Thunderstorms.
The month didn't see any air frosts although there were some ground frosts it was largely frost free as you would expect in a mild month.
April looks to began unsettled with light rain or showers and this looks to continue up to mid month. Temperatures average to just below with an outside chance of some Snow possible. From the 2nd half of the month high pressure is likely to the NE of the UK. So drier but with a easterly breeze so on the average to cool side and likely to be fairly cloudy at times as well. Temperatures close to average with just below average rainfall.
| March's Averages, Highs and Lows | ||
|---|---|---|
| Average Temp 6.4C | Last Months Average 8.3C | Difference from average 1.9C |
| Average Max Temp 10.2C | Last Months Average 12.0C | Difference from average 1.8C |
| Average Min Temp 2.7C | Last Months Average 4.6C | Difference From Average 1.9C |
| High Max 19.6C on the 18th | Low Max 6.4C on the 6th | Highest Daily Range 15.1C on the 18th |
| High Min 7.9C on the 24th | Low Min 1.4C on the 26th | Lowest Daily Range 2.4C on the 6th |
| Number of Air Frosts 0 | Days of Thunder 0 | Days of Snow 1 |
| Days of Measurable Rain 12 Days | Days of Rain with trace 7 Days | Days with Gusts ≥ 50 mph 2 day |
| Average Rainfall 60.6mm | This Months Average 50.7mm | Percentage of Average Rainfall 70.3% |