March 2026 registered as the most abnormally hot month in 132 years of weather records for the continental United States, according to data released Wednesday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The month's average temperature of 50.85 degrees Fahrenheit was 9.35 degrees above the 20th century normal for March, surpassing the previous record of 8.9 degrees above normal set in March 2012. This margin represents the largest temperature departure from normal for any month in U.S. weather history, regardless of the time of year.

The extreme heat was particularly pronounced during daytime hours, with average maximum temperatures reaching 11.4 degrees above the 20th century average. March's daytime highs were nearly a degree warmer than the typical average high temperatures for April, NOAA reported.

More than 19,800 daily temperature records were broken across the country during the month, according to meteorologist Guy Walton's analysis of NOAA data. Six of the nation's top 10 most abnormally hot months have occurred within the past decade.

The record-breaking heat followed an already mild winter and has raised concerns about water shortages and increased wildfire risks for the upcoming summer months. The combination of reduced snowpack in western regions and persistent high temperatures has created conditions that typically precede drought situations.

Weather forecasters are monitoring the potential development of an El Niño weather pattern, which could contribute to continued above-normal temperatures in the coming year.