This report describes the typical weather at the Erie International Airport (Tom Ridge Field) (Erie, Pennsylvania, United States) weather station over the course of an average March. It is based on the historical records from 1974 to 2012. Earlier records are either unavailable or unreliable.
Erie, Pennsylvania has a humid continental climate with hot summers and no dry season. The area within 25 mi of this station is covered by forests (48%), oceans and seas (47%), grasslands (3%), and built-up areas (2%).
The month of March is characterized by rapidly rising daily high temperatures, with daily highs increasing from 38Â°F to 48Â°F over the course of the month, exceeding 66Â°F or dropping below 25Â°F only one day in ten.
Over the course of March, the length of the day is increasing. From the start to the end of the month, the length of the day increases by 1:25 hours, implying an average day-over-day increase of 2.7 minutes.
The shortest day of the month is March 1 with 11:16 hours of daylight; the longest day is March 31 with 12:41 hours of daylight.
The earliest sunrise is at 6:41am on March 10; the latest sunset is at 7:46pm on March 31; the latest sunrise is at 7:39am on March 11; the earliest sunset is at 6:12pm on March 1.
Daylight savings time (DST) starts at 3:00am on March 11, 2012, shifting sunrise and sunset to an hour later.
The median cloud cover ranges from 86% (mostly cloudy) to 97% (overcast). The trend is for the sky to be clearing with the median cloud cover decreasing by 11% from the start to the end of the month.
On March 31, the clearest day of the month, the sky is clear, mostly clear, or partly cloudy 45% of the time, and overcast or mostly cloudy 55% of the time.
On March 1, the cloudiest day of the month, the sky is overcast, mostly cloudy, or partly cloudy 73% of the time, and clear or mostly clear 27% of the time.
The probability that precipitation will be observed at this location varies throughout the month. Precipitation is most likely around March 1, occurring in 70% of days. Precipitation is least likely around March 31, occurring in 62% of days.
Throughout March, the most common forms of precipitation are light snow and light rain.
Light snow is the most severe precipitation observed during 50% of those days with precipitation. It is most likely around March 1, when it is observed during 42% of all days.
Light rain is the most severe precipitation observed during 20% of those days with precipitation. It is most likely around March 31, when it is observed during 19% of all days.
The likelihood of snow falling is highest around March 1, occurring in 52% of days.
Accumulation at this location in March is unlikely. The chances of there being snow on the ground are highest around March 1, occurring 24% of the time.
The snow is typically at its deepest on March 6, with a median depth of 3.1"; the depth exceeds 8.3" only one year out of ten.
The relative humidity typically ranges from 52% (mildly humid) to 89% (very humid) over the course of a typical March, rarely dropping below 31% (comfortable) and reaching as high as 100% (very humid).
The air is driest around March 31, at which time the relative humidity drops below 63% (mildly humid) three days out of four; it is most humid around March 1, rising above 83% (humid) three days out of four.
Dew point is often a better measure of how comfortable a person will find the weather than relative humidity because it more directly relates to whether perspiration will evaporate from the skin, thereby cooling the body. Lower dew points feel drier and higher dew points feel more humid.
Over the course of a typical March, the dew point typically varies from 17Â°F (dry) to 37Â°F (dry) and is rarely below 4Â°F (dry) or above 51Â°F (very comfortable).
Over the course of March typical wind speeds vary from 4 mph to 18 mph (light breeze to fresh breeze), rarely exceeding 26 mph (strong breeze).
The highest average wind speed of 11 mph (gentle breeze) occurs around March 6, at which time the average daily maximum wind speed is 18 mph (fresh breeze).
The lowest average wind speed of 11 mph (gentle breeze) occurs around March 24, at which time the average daily maximum wind speed is 18 mph (fresh breeze).