March 2026
SUMMARY OF THE METEOROLOGICAL READINGS AT DURHAM UNIVERSITY OBSERVATORY
March 2026
Temperatures (all temperatures in degrees Celsuis; all averages 1991-2020)
Mean daily maximum: 12.0 Difference from average: +1.5
Mean daily minimum: 3.4 Difference from average: +0.9
Mean air temperature: 7.7 Difference from average: +1.5
Absolute maximum: 16.9 (17th)
Absolute minimum: -2.4 (7th)
Mean grass minimum: 2.1 Difference from average: +1.5
Absolute grass minimum: -4.7 (7th)
Mean concrete minimum: 2.9
Absolute concrete minimum: -3.1 (7th)
Number of ground frosts: 10 Difference from average: -4
Number of air frosts: 2 Difference from average: -5
Mean soil temperature at 300 mm depth: 8.1
Mean soil temperature at 1000 mm depth: 8.0
Rainfall (all totals in millimetres; all averages 1991-2020)
Total for the month: 44.6 Difference from average: +3.3
Percentage of the average: 107.9%
Wettest day: 15.2 (12th)
Number of rain days (>0.1 mm): 10 Difference from average: -5
Number of wet days (=>1.0 mm): 7 Difference from average: -2
3-month total rainfall to 31st March 2026: 172 .0 Difference from average: +33.2
6-month total rainfall to 31st March 2026: 418.8 Difference from average: +79.5
12-month total rainfall to 31st March 2026: 637.2 Difference from average: -43.0
Sunshine (all totals in hours; all averages 1991-2020)
Total for the month: 145.5 Difference from average: +25
Percentage of the average: 121%
Mean daily sunshine: 4.7 Difference from average: +0.8
Sunniest day: 9.6 (7th) Number of days with no recorded sunshine: 1
Note that the monthly sunshine total is now calculated from the UKMO E&NE regional total. Daily sunshine totals quoted here and in the data summary are uncorrected.
Wind (m/s; data from the West Building roof, Lower Mountjoy campus)
Average wind speed: 1.9
Maximum gust: 20.1 (29th, 12:30, WSW)
Pressure (mbar; data from the West Building roof, Lower Mountjoy campus)
Average: 1013.6
Maximum: 1029.6 (19th, 10:00) Minimum: 987.4 (13th, 4:45)
Comments on March 2026
March was a mild month, the equal 8th highest mean air temperature for March since 1844.
The mean maximum temperature was the equal 9th highest, and the mean minimum temperature was the equal 15th highest. 26 days recorded a maximum of at least 10 °C, 10 more than usual and the 5th highest total for March. There were only 2 air frosts, 5 fewer than normal. There were only 10 ground frosts, 4 below normal, and the mean grass minimum temperature was the equal 9th highest on record.
Rainfall was just above average, but still the 96th wettest March in 177 years. It was the driest month since last August. The 3-month and 6-month rainfall totals are above average, as expected, but the 12-month total remains below average. It was a sunny month, the 19th sunniest March since 1881.
Emeritus Professor Tim Burt
Department of Geography
Durham University