In brief
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that March 2023 was the hottest March in recorded history for the continental U.S., with temperatures averaging 50.85°F, surpassing any previous record. Meteorologists warn that this extreme heat may be exacerbated by an impending super El Niño event, potentially leading to even higher global temperatures.
WASHINGTON – March 2023 was a record-breaking month for warmth across the continental United States, marking it as the hottest March in 132 years, according to federal weather data released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
In what meteorologist Shel Winkley has deemed unprecedented, March's average temperature of 50.85 degrees Fahrenheit (10.47 degrees Celsius) was a staggering 9.35°F (5.19°C) above the 20th-century norm. This beat the previous record for extreme monthly anomaly held by March 2012, when temperatures averaged 8.9°F (4.9°C) above the norm.
The intense heat not only set records for March but also for any month in history across the contiguous U.S. Notably, daily records were shattered with over 19,800 temperature records broken nationwide. Meteorologist Guy Walton noted that the extraordinary warmth is peculiar as it follows a winter noted for its high temperatures and significant snowfall deficits.
Forecasters are now concerned as predictions of a brewing super El Niño could intensify the ongoing warming trend, potentially leading to further temperature rises over the next year. The effects of climate change seem to be pressuring weather patterns, raising questions about both immediate and long-term implications for the environment.
