The month of March 2026 is one which went into the history books but we would like to forget. The ridiculously warm and dry weather that has plagued us all winter continued with a vengeance.
Overall, Thornton saw its warmest March of the past 20 years. It also went into the books as the fourth driest March over the same period. Officially, Denver saw similar records fall.
Four of the first five days of the month saw well above normal temperatures. Finally, on the sixth day of the month, we got a break. Temperatures chilled and we received a nice shot of snow.
It did not take long though and the mild temperatures returned and dry conditions stayed until the 15th of the month. We then got another light bit of snow. That, however, would be the end of the precipitation for the month.
The final half of March 2026 saw us record seven days with 80+ degree temperatures and two days with 90+ degrees. The earliest we have ever seen those types of readings.
Thornton saw an average monthly temperature for March 2026 of 53.9 degrees. This was far above the 20-year running average for the month of 42.8 degrees. It also easily displaced March 2012 (49.6 degrees) as the warmest March over the same period.
Officially, as measured at Denver International Airport, the Mile High City saw record-setting temperatures as well. Their average reading for the month was 51.6 degrees. This easily bested the previous warmest March of 50.4 degrees set in 1910.
In terms of precipitation, Thornton recorded 0.63 inches in its bucket for the month. Most of that came with the snow on the 6th. This was well below the March 20 year average of 0.83 inches and put the month in the books as the 4th driest March over the period.
Denver was similarly dry recording 0.66 inches in their rain bucket. This was 0.20 inches below the long term March average for Denver.
Snow was reasonable for the month with Thornton receiving 6.8 inches during March 2026. That was, however, a good bit below the 10.5 inches we averaged over the past 20 years.
Out at DIA, Denver fared better with the white stuff with 10.1 inches being recorded. That was actually 1.7 inches above their long term average for snowfall in March.
Click here to view Thornton’s complete March 2026 climate summary report.
Weather records for Denver, Colorado set in March 2026
- Warmest March, on record (51.6 degrees), for Denver. Previous record (50.4 degrees) in 1910.
- Average High Temp was 67.6 degrees, warmest on record, for Denver. Previous record 65.5 degrees in 2012.
- Warmest start to a year (42.7 degrees), for the period from January through March, at Denver. Previous record was 41.3 degrees in 1986.
- 8 Days in March with 80 degrees or higher, at Denver. Previous record (3 days) in 1907.
- All time March high of 87 degrees occurred on the 25th, at Denver.
- 2nd most 70 degree days or higher (14 days), for the month of March, at Denver.
- Most 60 degree days or higher (64 days), for the period from December through March, at Denver. Previous record (42 days) 1981/1934/1918.
