health
Last month was hottest March on record for continental U.S.
Washington — March's persistent unseasonable heat was so intense that the continental United States registered its most abnormally hot month in 132 years of records, according to federal weather data. And the next year or so looks to turn the dial up on global warmth even more, as some forecasts predict a brewing El Niño will reach superstrength.
TL;DR
- March 2025 was the hottest March on record for the continental U.S., exceeding previous records by a significant margin.
- The average temperature for March was 9.35 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th-century normal.
- The January-March period was also the driest on record for the contiguous U.S., creating a concerning combination for water resources.
- Forecasts predict a super El Niño developing, which is expected to further increase global temperatures and potentially set new records.
- Human-caused climate change is considered a significant factor in the unprecedented heat observed.
- A super El Niño could potentially trigger a long-term climate regime shift.