SeasonMapFranz Josef weather in March
New Zealand
March in Franz Josef: nice, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 16 rainy days.
#3 of 12 months in Franz Josef · #647 of 1383 destinations to visit in March · comfort 76/100 (tier B)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Franz Josef in March
Other months in Franz Josef
Franz Josef's forum is candid that January's warm, long days come with the West Coast's notoriously dramatic weather — brilliant sunshine one minute, monsoon-style downpours the next. Regulars actually rate winter (July/August) as more settled for clear, flyable glacier days, even though January is warmer and busier.
Add your own note from Franz Josef's card on the map.
Franz Josef climate normals — March
| Daytime high | 17°C / 63°F | 😎 nice |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 11°C / 52°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 17°C / 63°F | |
| Sea temperature | 18°C / 65°F | 🧊 bracing |
| Rainfall | 310 mm / 12.2 in | ⛈ soaked |
| Rainy days | 16 days | |
| Humidity | 85% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | 12°C / 53°F | |
| Sunshine | 8.9 h/day | |
| Daylight | 12.4 h | |
| Wind | 15 km/h / 10 mph | |
| Snowfall | 0.1 cm / 0 in | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 27 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Franz Josef in March
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Busyone of its best months for weather(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Franz Josef's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Fair weatherFranz Josef's weather doesn't swing hard through the year — comfort stays fairly steady in every month.
What's on in Franz Josef in March
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Hazard
Highway closures in heavy rain
1 Jan – 31 DecFlood seasonClosuresThere is one road in and one road out, and a big West Coast rain event closes it north or south of the village a few times a year. Check the highway before you commit to a night here. Source ↗
- Hazard
Sandflies at their worst
1 Nov – 31 Mar · usuallyInsect seasonSandflies are here all year and unbearable in the warm months, worst on still overcast days by the river and at the glacier car park. Repellent and covered ankles are not optional. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Franz Josef — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Franz Josef?
Franz Josef in March — FAQ
- Is March a good time to visit Franz Josef?
- March in Franz Josef: nice, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 16 rainy days. It ranks #3 of 12 months for Franz Josef on SeasonMap's comfort score (76/100).
- What is the weather like in Franz Josef in March?
- In March, Franz Josef averages a daily high of 17°C and a low of 11.3°C, with about 310.3 mm of rain over roughly 15.6 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Franz Josef in March?
- Franz Josef has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 27 in March.
Other months in Franz Josef
Compare Franz Josef in March
Warmer or cooler than Franz Josef in March
Similar destinations in Oceania — March
Within 300 km: Te Anau's Great Walks season around 25 Oct – 30 Apr, and Aoraki Mount Cook's Alpine hut booking season on 9 Nov – 27 Apr.