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US Swelters: Record March Heat Scorches Nation
14 Apr
Summary
- United States recorded its hottest March in 131 years, impacting over half of its landmass.
- Extreme March heat accelerated snowmelt and worsened drought conditions across the nation.
- Meteorologists warn climate change is making such extreme heat events more frequent.
The United States endured its hottest March in 131 years, with widespread extreme warmth impacting more than half of the nation's land area. Large regions from the West Coast to the Great Plains and South experienced record-breaking temperatures early in the year.
This unprecedented heat accelerated snowmelt and exacerbated drought conditions, expanding to nearly 60 percent of the contiguous U.S. The January through March period was also the driest on record nationally, with California experiencing its warmest and driest March ever.
Meteorologists attribute these extreme events to climate change, noting that heat waves are becoming more frequent, longer-lasting, and more intense. Projections indicate that above-average temperatures and dry conditions are likely to persist into the summer months across much of the U.S.
This ongoing warmth and dryness heighten concerns about worsening drought and increased wildfire risk, especially in the West and Southwest. Experts warn that global temperature increases are making such extreme weather events more probable and impactful.
