Record Temperatures: March in the U.S. Sets Unprecedented Heat Records

Sat Apr 11 2026 14:35:02 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

March 2023 has been recorded as the hottest month on record for the continental U.S., as data shows a significant increase in temperature across the country, further exacerbated by a potent El Nino effect.

March has officially been recognized as the hottest month on record for the continental United States, with an average temperature surpassing previous records by over 9 degrees Fahrenheit. This extreme heat trend is accompanied by forecasts of a potentially powerful El Nino, raising concerns about continued warm conditions in the near future.

WASHINGTON (AP) — March 2023 has become a historic point of reference as it marked the hottest month ever recorded in the continental United States, breaking previous temperature records observed over the last 132 years, according to meteorological data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

This March, the average temperature was a staggering 50.85 degrees Fahrenheit (10.47 degrees Celsius), which is 9.35°F (5.19°C) above the 20th-century average for the month. This substantial increase not only shattered the record for March itself but also set a new benchmark for any month in recorded history. Previously, March 2012 held the record for the most abnormally hot month, with a difference of 8.9°F (4.9°C).

The data indicates that the average maximum temperature for the month was 11.4°F (6.3°C) greater than the 20th-century normal. Notably, this average exceeds even the daytime high for April.

Observations show that six of the ten hottest months on record have occurred within the last decade, intensifying concerns around climate change and the patterns of rising global temperatures. February 2023, which was also notably warmer, recorded increases of 6.57°F (3.65°C) above the norm for that month, ranking it as the tenth hottest in U.S. history.

Climatologist Shel Winkley from Climate Central expressed profound concern about the duration and extent of these record temperatures. What we experienced in March across the United States was unprecedented. The sheer number of records set and broken during this timeframe, especially following the hottest winter on record, magnifies our worries about both the implication of climate change and the long-term trends we are observing, Winkley stated.

In total, more than 19,800 daily temperature records for heat were broken across the nation, reflecting these alarming trends in temperature extremes. With predictions of an impending strong El Nino, experts warn that the coming months could see even more heightened temperatures, making the ongoing situation even more critical.

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