Early Spring Or More Winter? Official Weather Outlook For Minnesota Lays Out March Forecast

March is often a month of impatience in Minnesota, where the state gets doses of warm, springlike weather or reminders that winter still isn't quite over with snowstorms and bursts of cold.

What does this March hold in store for Minnesota? The National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center just published its outlook for the majority of March in Minnesota, and here's what it shows.

Minnesota to see a warm start to March 2026

How does that March weather phrase go? In like a lion, out like a lamb? In the case of this March, Minnesota's weather looks like it will come in more like a lamb.

The Climate Prediction Center is showing a high probability across Minnesota for warmer-than-normal temperatures all the way through March 11.

The first week of March, almost all of Minnesota has a sizable likelihood of warmer-than-normal temperatures, with the southern half of the state seeing even better odds. Into the second week, those odds stay pretty similar, as you can see in the maps above.

So, what are "normal" temperatures for March in Minnesota?

Obviously, it depends on where in the state you are. Here's a look at some of the normals across the state. The forecast above suggests there's a favorable chance temperatures could be warmer than this.

READ MORE: What is actually Minnesota's snowiest month of the year? You might be surprised

Remember, those are "broad brushstrokes" forecasts and look at overall trends. We could still see colder days mixed in.

Average daytime highs for March in Minnesota

International Falls: 32.4 degrees F

Duluth: 32.9 degrees F

Twin Cities: 38.9 degrees F

Rochester: 37.8 degrees F

Will the later part of March 2026 also be warm in Minnesota?

The warm trend the Climate Prediction Center sees for Minnesota to start the month does seem to trail off later in the month.

While there is still a slightly favorable chance of warmer temperatures across Minnesota in the later parts of March, it is less likely as of right now than in the early part of March.

What about precipitation? How wet or snowy will March 2026 be in MInnesota?

While the March outlook appears to be favoring warmer temperatures, what about precipitation? The outlook for the month for Minnesota indicates things are leaning toward a wetter trend for the month.

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Through the first couple of weeks of the month, in particular, the outlook points to a likelihood of wetter weather. Combine that with the likelihood of warmer temperatures, and that could translate to heavy and wet snow, rain, and/or mixed precipitation opportunities through the beginning of the month.

Similar to the temperature outlook, the precipiation outlook brings those odds down a bit later in March, but there is still a potential of above-normal levels of precipitation later in the month for Minnesota, too.