NOAA: March 2026 Was Most Abnormally Hot Month on Record for Lower 48 as Forecasters Warn of Potential ‘Super’ El Niño
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Federal data show March 2026 was the most abnormally hot month on record for the Lower 48, with an average temperature of 50.85°F—9.35°F above the 20th‑century March normal—and average daytime highs 11.4°F above normal (nearly 1°F warmer than a typical April); April 2025–March 2026 was the warmest 12‑month period on record and January–March 2026 was the driest on record for the contiguous U.S. Climate Central said late‑March heat over about one‑third of the country would have been "virtually impossible" without human‑caused warming, and NOAA and Europe’s Copernicus service warn a likely "super" El Niño is expected to form in coming months and could push global temperatures beyond 2024’s record.