March 2026 Shatters US Heat Records as Hottest March in 132 Years

Key Points

• March 2026 was the hottest March in 132 years of US records
• Nearly 2,000 monthly high-temperature records were broken
• Over 10,000 daily record highs were set across the lower 48 states
• The 12-month period ending March 2026 is the warmest ever recorded

Full Details

According to NOAA data, March 2026 concluded as the warmest March in the 132-year record for the United States, with a persistent high-pressure system driving record heat across the West and extending into the eastern states. The month saw weather stations break 1,924 monthly high maximum temperature records and tie 682 others, while also shattering 10,763 daily record highs. More than 500 counties experienced their warmest March on record, contributing to a 12-month period that stands as the warmest ever recorded across the country. This unprecedented heat follows months of already record-breaking temperatures, highlighting an accelerating trend in US climate patterns.