What Weather to Expect in March in Armenia

In March, the altitude of the sun continues to rise over the horizon in the Republic, thus increasing the duration of daylight. This is reported by the Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Center.

The amount of heat received by the surface of the country significantly increases. Compared to February, the average monthly air temperature in March is 3.9°C higher. The average temperature for the first pentad is -3.2°C, for the third pentad it is +0.5°C.

The average monthly temperature in Gegharkunik, Shirak, the mountainous regions of Aragatsotn, and Kotayk is negative, ranging from -1 to -4°C; in Lori (Tashir) it is -3°C; in the foothills of Syunik and Aragatsotn it is 0 to +2°C, while in the rest of the republic it is +3 to +8°C.

In the regions of Ararat and Armavir, the valleys of Syunik, and Yerevan, the stable transition of the average monthly temperature from below 0°C to above 0°C occurs at the beginning of March, in Lori at the second pentad, and in the mountainous regions of Aragatsotn, Gegharkunik, and Shirak at the third pentad.

Due to the invasion of arctic cold air masses, in some years, the absolute minimum temperatures have reached -28 to -34°C in mountainous areas, -24 to -30°C in the foothills, -13 to -17°C in valley areas, and -17 to -25°C in the Ararat plain.

Tropical warm air masses from the Middle East and the Mediterranean bring significant increases in temperature. In some years, the absolute maximum temperatures in the mountainous regions of the republic have reached 19 to 22°C, in the foothills, in the Ararat plain, and in Tavush it has been 23 to 27°C, and in the valleys of Syunik, it has reached 25 to 30°C.

The average monthly temperature in Yerevan is 5.1°C, with the first pentad at 3.0°C, the second pentad at 5.0°C, and the third pentad at 7.2°C. The temperature differs in the high-altitude and low-altitude areas of Yerevan. The lowest temperature ever recorded was -25.2°C in the low-altitude areas in 1985, and -16.4°C in the high-altitude areas. The highest temperatures were recorded in 1970 at 27°C and in 2001 at 24.8°C.

The number of precipitation days in the republic amounts to 9-13 days (68 days in the Ararat plain). The monthly precipitation amount is 28-45 mm in most regions, with relatively high precipitation observed in Kapan at 60 mm, in Aparan and Hrazdan at 67 mm, and in Goris at 75 mm. The minimum amount of precipitation is recorded in the Ararat plain at 23-24 mm.

The average snow cover thickness in the Aragats highland station is 160 cm, in Jermuk it is 75 cm, in the mountainous regions of Aragatsotn and Kotayk it is 50-65 cm, and in Shirak it is 40-50 cm.