March 2026 brought relatively mild conditions to Gelderland, with temperatures hovering just slightly above the seasonal norm. The month was characterized by notably dry weather and significantly reduced sunshine, marking a departure from typical spring patterns in the Dutch province.
Temperature Overview
The average temperature for March in Gelderland reached 7.8 degrees Celsius, marginally exceeding the normal value of 7.7 degrees by 0.1 degrees. While this represents near-normal conditions overall, the month exhibited considerable variation across different locations and dates. The warmest day occurred in Harderwijk on March 6th, when temperatures climbed to 18.8 degrees Celsius, providing a pleasant early spring day. In contrast, the coldest conditions were recorded in Barneveld on March 27th, dropping to minus 0.9 degrees Celsius, indicating that frost remained a possibility even late in the month.
Precipitation Patterns
March proved to be significantly drier than average, with total precipitation reaching only 28.9 millimeters compared to the normal expectation of 38.9 millimeters. This represents a 26 percent deficit from typical March rainfall. The wettest single day occurred in Arnhem on March 30th, when 21.2 millimeters of rain fell. Berg en Dal emerged as the wettest location across the province during the month, accumulating 73.7 millimeters of precipitation, indicating that rainfall distribution was quite uneven across Gelderland.
Sunshine and Notable Conditions
Perhaps the most striking feature of March 2026 was the severe shortage of sunshine. The province received only 84.1 hours of sunshine, representing a dramatic 65 percent reduction from the normal 241.8 hours expected for this month. This substantial deficit would have contributed to a notably grey and overcast character throughout the period, limiting opportunities for outdoor activities and potentially affecting mood and visibility across the region.