The continental United States just went through its most abnormally hot month in 132 years of recordkeeping, according to federal weather data released by Noaa.
March’s persistent unseasonable warmth was so extreme that it became not only the hottest March on record for the US, but also the month that stood furthest above normal in the history of the lower 48 states. The agency’s data show March averaged 50.85F (10.47C), which was 9.35F (5.19C) above the 20th-century March average.
That kind of temperature anomaly is unusual even in a warming climate, and it underscores how extraordinary the month was across the continental US. The record is based on 132 years of observations, giving scientists a long historical baseline against which to measure present-day conditions.
Heat arrives as global warmth is expected to climb further
The heat did not come with signs of relief. Forecasts suggest that the next year or so could push global temperatures even higher, with some predictions pointing to a brewing El Niño that may reach super strength. Such a development would add more heat to an already elevated global climate background.
While the source data focus on the United States, the broader outlook signals that the recent surge in warmth may not be an isolated event. The combination of a record-setting March and expectations for stronger global heating raises fresh concern about the pace and scale of temperature extremes in the months ahead.
For the lower 48 states, this March stands out as a historic outlier. It was both the hottest March ever recorded and the month with the greatest departure from normal temperatures in the dataset, a distinction that highlights just how far conditions moved beyond typical seasonal patterns.
Federal records continue to show that extreme heat is becoming a defining feature of the climate story in the US. March’s numbers add another striking example to that trend, with nationwide warmth arriving early and with unusual intensity.
