01Weather
San Francisco weather in March
Afternoons in March average 17.2 °C (63 °F) and nights cool to 8.3 °C (47 °F). The month brings about 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain spread over roughly 8 days. Compared with February it is 0.4 °C warmer; April is 1.9 °C warmer again.
What the averages hide
| In a typical March | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Warm afternoons (90th percentile) | 21 °C / 70 °F | one day in ten is at least this warm |
| Cool afternoons (10th percentile) | 14 °C / 57 °F | one day in ten stays below this |
| Cold nights (10th percentile) | 5 °C / 41 °F | one night in ten is colder than this |
| Days above 30 °C (86 °F) | 0.0 | per month, average 2016–2025 |
| Nights at or below 0 °C (32 °F) | 0.0 | frost mornings per month |
| Chance of rain on any given day | 27 % | at least 1 mm |
| Hottest / coldest March day 2016–2025 | 27.8 °C / 2.8 °C | extremes in the ten-year record |
02Daylight
Sunrise, sunset and the length of the day
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 March | 06:41 | 18:02 | 11.4 h |
| 15 March | 07:20 | 19:16 | 11.9 h |
| 31 March | 06:56 | 19:31 | 12.6 h |
Daylight grows by about 72 minutes over the month. Times are local (America/Los_Angeles), including the clock change on the last Sunday of March.
03Crowds
How busy San Francisco is in March
moderate The main sights are moderate in March. What drives it:
- spring break
- St Patrick's Day
- Game Developers Conference
04Public holidays
Public holidays in March 2027
No public holidays in United States fall in March, so shops and museums keep normal hours all month.
05Events
What's on in San Francisco in March
Every year in March
| Event | When | Type |
|---|---|---|
| St Patrick's Day Parade | mid-March, Market Street | parade |
07Packing
What to pack for San Francisco in March
- a warm jacket or coat
- scarf for windy evenings
- closed, water-resistant shoes
- a compact umbrella for occasional showers
08Editor's notes
What the numbers don't tell you
March sees rain tapering off, with about eight wet days, and the first warm afternoons around 17 °C, with spring break visitors arriving mid-month and the Game Developers Conference filling Moscone for a week. Wildflowers appear in the Marin Headlands and on Mount Tamalpais. It is a good-value month before spring prices begin. The clocks go forward on the second Sunday.
St Patrick's Day brings a parade on Market Street. The baseball season opens at Oracle Park at the end of the month or in early April. Fog is still infrequent, so the Golden Gate views are reliable. Alcatraz needs booking about a week ahead. For the Cherry Blossom Festival in Japantown and Easter, see April.
09Compare
San Francisco month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Sun h | Crowds | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 15 °C | 7 °C | 7 | – | quiet | Good |
| February | 17 °C | 7 °C | 7 | – | quiet | Good |
| March | 17 °C | 8 °C | 8 | – | moderate | Excellent |
| April | 19 °C | 10 °C | 5 | – | moderate | Excellent |
| May | 20 °C | 12 °C | 2 | – | busy | Excellent |
| June | 22 °C | 13 °C | 0 | – | very busy | Good |
| July | 22 °C | 14 °C | 0 | – | very busy | Good |
| August | 23 °C | 15 °C | 0 | – | very busy | Good |
| September | 24 °C | 14 °C | 0 | – | very busy | Good |
| October | 23 °C | 11 °C | 2 | – | busy | Excellent |
| November | 18 °C | 8 °C | 5 | – | moderate | Excellent |
| December | 15 °C | 6 °C | 8 | – | moderate | Good |
Not sure about March? See the best time to visit San Francisco.
10Elsewhere
March in nearby cities
| City | High | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles in March | 19 °C | 1 |
| Las Vegas in March | 21 °C | 1 |
| Vancouver in March | 10 °C | 16 |
| Toronto in March | 6 °C | 8 |
| Cancún in March | 29 °C | – |
| Orlando in March | 27 °C | 3 |
11FAQ
San Francisco in March: your questions
Is March a good time to visit San Francisco?
March is one of the best months to visit San Francisco. Daytime highs average 17 °C (63 °F), rain falls on about 8 days, and hotel arrivals run above the yearly average, so the main sights are moderate.
What is the weather like in San Francisco in March?
Expect mild days around 17 °C (63 °F) and nights near 8 °C (47 °F). One March in ten brings afternoons above 21 °C, and one in ten stays below 14 °C.
Does it rain a lot in San Francisco in March?
March brings about 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain over roughly 8 days, which is fairly dry by San Francisco standards. On any given day the chance of at least 1 mm of rain is 27 percent.
What should I wear in San Francisco in March?
Pack a warm jacket or coat, scarf for windy evenings, closed, water-resistant shoes.
Is San Francisco crowded in March?
The main sights are moderate in March. Main drivers: spring break; St Patrick's Day; Game Developers Conference.
What time does it get dark in San Francisco in March?
Around the middle of March the sun sets at about 19:16 and rises at 07:20, giving 11.9 hours of daylight.