Record heat swamps the U.S. in March as El Niño looms

March 2026 was the hottest March on record for the continental United States, averaging 50.85 F (10.47 C) — 9.35 F (5.19 C) above the 20th‑century March norm — and shattering heat records across the Lower 48, with NOAA noting more than 19,800 daily heat records and over 2,000 monthly records; January–March was the driest on record. Forecasters say a superstrong El Niño could push global temperatures higher into 2026–2027 and reshape weather patterns, potentially boosting Pacific hurricane activity and stressing water supplies in the West.