US Hottest March, Super El Niño

March 2026 was the most abnormally hot month on record for the United States in 132 years, with an average temperature 9.35 F above the 20th century normal. This period also marked the driest January through March on record for the contiguous United States. Federal weather data from the United States — National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration confirmed these records, with Climate Central attributing the unseasonable heat to human-caused climate change. Furthermore, both the United States — National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Copernicus Programme are forecasting a 'super' strong El Niño–Southern Oscillation to form, expected to push global temperatures to new record levels in late 2026 and into 2027. This El Niño–Southern Oscillation could trigger a 'climate regime shift,' altering weather patterns for years or decades, potentially leading to stronger hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and impacting water availability, agriculture, and river levels across the United States.