Is it raining now in March?
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Last update: 21:00, 5 Oct 2026
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Rain in March: What You Need to Know
March sits on the Old River Nene in the Cambridgeshire Fens, one of the largest parishes in England, with the river running through the middle of the flat town and drained farmland stretching out toward the horizon on every side. Anyone comparing a forecast with a March rain radar sees the gap quickly, since hyperlocal radar shows where the rain is and where it is heading.
March sits on some of the flattest ground in the country, so rain has almost nowhere to run off naturally, and the network of drains and the Nene that keep the Fens farmable can fill quickly after a heavy shower. Although East Anglia counts among the UK's driest regions, that reputation does not mean dry weather is guaranteed. Because the land is flat and the North Sea shallow, showers and thunderstorms build rapidly, and once heavy rain falls on the Fens and the Broads it has nowhere to drain, so ponding and rising rivers typically follow. North-easterly winds off the sea add further showers to whatever fronts bring from the west.
For anyone in March, England, RainViewer shows Met Office radar data live, refreshed with every new scan roughly every 5 minutes. The live map shows whether a shower is still crossing the Fens or already at the river, which a forecast for March cannot tell you.
Rain by Season in March
Late summer and autumn rain (August to November)
Convective storms and the first autumn fronts bring the heaviest rain of the year to the Fens around March. The heaviest rain of the year falls now, as summer thunderstorms hand off to the year's earliest autumn fronts across this otherwise dry region. Rivers rise, drainage strains and sea defences face their toughest test, while North Sea tidal surges add further flood risk along the coast.
Transition months (May to July)
Heat builds over the flat land, and thunderstorms form fast and move slowly. Forecasts are least reliable because the storms are small, and show days and outdoor events are the most exposed. Heat builds over the flat land, and thunderstorms form fast and move slowly, catching outdoor plans by surprise.
Winter and spring (December to April)
Rainfall eases off and becomes less frequent through these months, though frost, cold showers and North Sea drizzle still turn up on some days. It is the driest stretch of the year overall, but an easterly wind can still deliver showers and sleet. Rain is lighter and less frequent through the winter and spring, though a cold easterly can still bring showers.
Why You Need a Rain Radar in March
Nene riverside walkers
The river runs through the middle of March, and the towpath beside it is fully exposed. Check the radar before setting out along the water.
Fenland footpath and farm workers
The flat, open Fens around March offer almost no shelter from a passing shower. Watch the cell approach and time the walk or the work to the gap.
March town centre and market visitors
The market streets in the centre see weekly crowds, and rain sends shoppers under cover fast. Time the visit to the gap between showers.
Drivers on the Fen roads around March
The flat, straight roads across the Fens flood at low points after heavy rain. Check the radar before crossing the open farmland.
RainViewer Radar Coverage in March
RainViewer shows UK precipitation using data from the Met Office, the national weather service, which runs a network of C-band dual-polarization weather radars. The Met Office network also feeds the European OPERA composite, and the RainViewer map refreshes with each new scan, about every 5 minutes. From March the map also covers Wisbech, Chatteris and Ely.
March Rain Radar: Frequently Asked Questions
- How does rain affect the Fen roads around March?
The roads crossing the Fens around March run dead straight across some of the flattest farmland in the country, so heavy rain has almost nowhere to drain away and low points can flood within the hour. Drivers on these roads watch the radar rather than a single area forecast before setting out. RainViewer shows the shower crossing the Fens toward the town.
- Does rain affect the A141 near March?
Yes, the A141 near March slows in heavy rain, and standing water collects fast on the flat, straight stretches either side of town. Look at the map before you set off. A look at the map shows whether the cell has passed or is still on the way.
- Does March flood when it rains?
Yes, the flat Fens around March can flood after heavy rain, since the low, drained land has almost no natural fall to carry water away, and the drainage network can fill quickly. The Old Nene through the town centre is closely managed but can still rise. The radar shows whether more rain is crossing the Fens.
- When is the best time to visit March to avoid rain?
May to September is the best window to visit March, with the River Nene and the surrounding Fens at their best. Late summer storms over the flat land are the ones to watch. Look at the radar early and plan outdoor time around the gap.
- Why can it rain on the outlying Fen farmland while March town centre stays dry around March?
The flat Fen farmland around March has almost nowhere for rain to drain away quickly, while the town centre beside the managed Nene channel copes with the same rain more predictably. Live radar shows the edge of each cell, so checking the outlying Fen farmland and March town centre separately shows which side of the line you are on.
- What does RainViewer show for March that a forecast percentage does not?
A forecast percentage for March gives one number for the whole area, while RainViewer shows the actual shape and position of the rain on the map. Because the Met Office's dual-polarization radar tells heavy convective downpours apart from lighter frontal rain, forecasts stay accurate over East Anglia's flat farmland and along the well-covered North Sea shoreline. That hyperlocal, live picture is what lets you judge a specific street rather than the whole town.
- What can I do with RainViewer in March beyond checking current rain?
Set a rain alert on the River Nene or the Fenland footpaths and RainViewer warns you before rain arrives. That lets you time a riverside walk or a countryside drive. The 2-hour forecast in 5-minute slices shows the next gap, and saved locations track the market streets and Wisbech.
Track Rain in March in Real Time
A visit to the River Nene riverside and a drive across the Fens both depend on a dry gap, and RainViewer shows the next one.
Storms cross the flat land around March quickly, so a dry hour can end in minutes.
A weather app says rain for March this afternoon. RainViewer's live hyperlocal radar shows it still crossing the Fens with the town centre still dry, and that decides whether the drive across the farmland starts now.
Track rain in March — free Upgrade to Essential for alerts, forecasts, and full radar history
2-hour forecast in 5-minute slices
Slice the next two hours into 5-minute steps and pick the gap for the walk beside the Nene.
Rain alerts before arrival
An alert on the Nene riverside arrives while the rain is still on its way, and that decides whether to cross the Fen roads now or wait for the water to drop.
Direction arrows on the map
In March the wet weather tends to come from the west and south-west, with North Sea showers from the north-east, and the arrows show the track of every shower.
48 hours of radar history
Scroll back over the Fens around March to see what actually fell overnight.
Multiple locations
Track the River Nene, the market streets and the Fenland footpaths together and compare which one is dry.
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