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SunnyDays

ERA5 almanac — 8 years of real data

Cartagena in March

Cartagena in March: 18% of days see measurable rain, 91°F average high, 35% of days historically clear (n=248, ERA5 2018–2025).

Cartagena in March is historically a poor month for sun: only 35% of days clear across 8 years (n=248, avg high 91°F). Historical average, not a forecast.

What you are reading: 8-year historical averages from the ERA5 reanalysis, not a forecast. A month that is historically 90% clear can still be overcast on your specific trip. For this week’s actual forecast, see the live Cartagena page. Both can be true at once: “historically strong in this month; this particular week is not.” We label which is which.

Early vs. Late March

Clear-sky percentage for Cartagena in March, split by half-month. “n” is the number of days sampled across 8 years (2018–2025).
Period % Clear days Sample (n) Avg high
Early March
1st–15th		 41% n=120 91°F
Late March
16th–end		 30% n=128 91°F
Full month average 35% n=248 91°F

Sunshine & warmth in March

A second measure using actual sunshine hours (ERA5 sunshine_duration), not the daily weather code. A Lowcountry day with 12 hours of sun and a 25-minute afternoon storm is counted below as a warm, sunny day — because it was. How we define this.

Sunshine-based metrics for Cartagena in March. Primary: % of days ≥ 72°F with > 6 h of sunshine.
Period Warm & sunny (≥72°F, >6 h sun) Sample (n)
Early March
1st–15th		 100% n=120
Late March
16th–end		 100% n=128
Full month average 100% n=248
11.7 h median sunshine per day 99% of days exceed 8 h sunshine 18% of days see ≥ 1 mm rain — rain is not hidden
Comparison (old vs new): WMO-code “clear” bar: 35%. Sunshine-based “warm & sunny”: 100%. The 65-point gap is from brief afternoon convective storms that stamp the whole day as “rain” in the WMO code but leave the bulk of the sunshine untouched.

Bottom line

Cartagena is mostly overcast in March historically: only 35% of days are clear across 8 years (n=248), avg high 91°F. Most visitors this month will see more clouds than sun.

Every month in Cartagena

Compare across all months with data. Numbers are historical clear-sky %.

Historical clear-sky % for Cartagena, all months, ERA5 2018–2025.
Month % Clear Sample (n)
January 51% n=248 All destinations →
February 56% n=226 All destinations →
March ← this page 35% n=248 All destinations →
April 10% n=240 All destinations →
May 5% n=248 All destinations →
June 4% n=240 All destinations →
July 4% n=248 All destinations →
August 3% n=248 All destinations →
September 1% n=240 All destinations →
October 1% n=248 All destinations →
November 4% n=240 All destinations →
December 26% n=248 All destinations →

Frequently asked

Does it rain in Cartagena in March?

Rarely. Only 18% of days in Cartagena see measurable rain in March, based on 8 years of ERA5 historical data (n=248 days, 2018–2025). This is a historical average, not a forecast.

Is Cartagena good for sun in March?

It's mixed. Cartagena in March is clear on 35% of days historically (avg high 91°F, n=248 days, ERA5 2018–2025) — the outcome varies year to year.

How Cartagena compares in March

Head-to-head clear-sky comparisons against destinations travelers plausibly weigh against Cartagena this month — same passport tier, similar flight distance, both sides from the same 8-year ERA5 record.

All percentages are historical averages from the ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 8 full years (2018–2025). “Clear” means avg high ≥ 72 °F, precipitation < 1 mm, and a non-precipitation weather code. This is history, not a forecast. The live 7-day outlook for any destination is on its own page and may differ from the long-run average. Data from Open-Meteo.