March shatters U.S. heat record as El Niño looms

NOAA data show March 2026 was the hottest March on record for the continental U.S., with an average temperature of 50.85°F—9.35°F above the 20th‑century March norm—surpassing the previous all‑month record. The month featured thousands of daily heat records and highlighted the driest January–March period in years. Climate scientists say the extreme warmth is linked to human-caused warming, and forecasts point to a super‑strong El Niño forming later this year, likely pushing global temperatures higher into 2026–27 and influencing droughts and hurricane patterns.