US Registers Hottest March in 132 Years of Records
The continental United States has recorded its most abnormally hot month in over a century, with March 2026 marking a historic peak in temperatures. According to data released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the average temperature for March reached 50.85°F (10.47°C), which is a staggering 9.35°F (5.19°C) above the 20th-century normal for the month.
Unprecedented Heat and Record-Breaking Statistics
This temperature anomaly easily surpassed the previous record of 8.9°F set in March 2012, making it the most abnormally hot month on record regardless of the time of year. The average maximum temperature for March was particularly high, at 11.4°F above the 20th-century average, nearly a degree warmer than the typical daytime high for April.
Shel Winkley, a meteorologist with the non-profit science research group Climate Central, described the situation as "unprecedented". He highlighted the sheer volume of records broken, noting that over 19,800 daily temperature records were shattered across the country, with more than 2,000 locations setting monthly heat records.
Long-Term Trends and Climate Change Impact
Six of the nation's top 10 most abnormally hot months have occurred in the last decade, with February 2026 ranking as the 10th highest above normal at 6.57°F above the 20th-century average. The period from April 2025 to March 2026 was the warmest 12-month stretch on record in the continental US.
Jeff Masters, a meteorologist from Yale Climate Connections, emphasized that climate change is having a severe impact, stating it "is kicking our butts". He also pointed out that the January through March period was the driest on record, creating a dangerous combination for water availability, agriculture, and river navigation.
Forecasts and Future Implications
Both NOAA and the European climate service Copernicus are predicting the formation of a "super" strong El Niño in the coming months, which could intensify into winter. Victor Gensini, a meteorology professor at Northern Illinois University, warned that this could push global temperatures to new record levels in late 2026 and into 2027.
On March 20 and 21, about one-third of the nation experienced unseasonable heat that Climate Central calculated would have been virtually impossible without human-caused climate change. This event underscores the growing urgency of addressing extreme weather patterns linked to global warming.
