March Smashes Heat Records as Super El Niño Looms
The continental United States experienced its most abnormally hot month in 132 years during March, with temperatures averaging 9.35 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th-century normal. This record-breaking heat followed a period of record dryness and broke over 19,800 daily temperature records across the nation. Experts from NOAA and Climate Central attribute these extreme conditions to human-caused climate change, noting that six of the top ten hottest months have occurred in the last decade. Looking ahead, forecasts predict a 'super' strong El Niño event will develop later this year, potentially pushing global temperatures to new highs in 2026 and 2027. The combination of unprecedented heat, severe drought, and an intensifying El Niño poses significant risks to agriculture, water availability, and river navigation.
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March Smashes Heat Records as Super El Niño Looms
The continental United States experienced its most abnormally hot month in 132 years during March, with temperatures averaging 9.35 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th-century normal. This record-breaking heat followed a period of record dryness and broke over 19,800 daily temperature records across the nation. Experts from NOAA and Climate Central attribute these extreme conditions to human-caused climate change, noting that six of the top ten hottest months have occurred in the last decade. Looking ahead, forecasts predict a 'super' strong El Niño event will develop later this year, potentially pushing global temperatures to new highs in 2026 and 2027. The combination of unprecedented heat, severe drought, and an intensifying El Niño poses significant risks to agriculture, water availability, and river navigation.
AP News