States That Just Had The Hottest March in History

Global temperatures have been rising at an unprecedented rate in recent decades. Now, each of the last 11 years rank among the 11 warmest since record keeping began – and as was the case worldwide, 2024 was the warmest year ever in the United States. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the average global temperature was 59.3°F in 2024, 2.3°F higher than the 20th century average. In the continental United States, the anomaly was even more pronounced, as the average temperature in 2024 exceeded the annual 20th century average by 3.5°F. 

But in the era of climate change, temperatures are rising so rapidly that standing records do not often remain in place for long. Recent data published by NOAA shows that, so far, 2026 is on pace to supersede 2024 as the hottest in U.S. history. Between January and March, the average temperature across the Lower 48 was 41.4°F – higher than the same three-month period in any other year since at least 1895, and well above the 39.2°F average reported in the first quarter of 2024. 

New record-high temperatures this year have been driven in large part by blistering March heat in much of the Western United States. According to local weather station readings compiled by NOAA, record-high March temperatures were either matched or broken in the U.S. 2,235 times in 2026. Many of these records were set in the Southern and Western United States, where temperatures last month regularly surged past 100°F, often exceeding seasonal norms by more than 30°F. Now, in 10 states and over 540 U.S. counties, average March temperatures hit new all-time highs in 2026. 

Using data from NOAA, Climate Crisis 247 identified the states where last month now stands as the warmest March in history. Supplemental state-level data on average March temperatures in the 20th century are also from NOAA. For each state on this list, we also identified the number of counties that reported all-time high average March temperatures this year, as well as the highest record-breaking temperature in these places. States are ranked by the difference between last month’s average temperature and the average March temperature in the 20th century. 

Among the 10 states on this list, March 2026 was anywhere from 8.8°F to 13.9°F warmer than the 20th century norm. In most of these states, including California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah, every county in the state reported new, all-time high average March temperatures this year. 

10. Idaho

• Average temperature in March 2026: 41.4°F (warmest March in history)
• Average March temperature in Idaho, 1901-2000: 32.6°F (8.8°F cooler than March 2026)
• Counties in Idaho reporting warmest March in 2026: 29 of 44 counties
• County in Idaho with the highest record-breaking avg. temperature, March 2026: Canyon County (50.9°F)
• Average March temperature in Canyon County, 1901-2020: 43.4°F (7.5°F cooler than March 2026)

9. Texas

• Average temperature in March 2026: 66.8°F (warmest March in history)
• Average March temperature in Texas, 1901-2000: 56.3°F (10.5°F cooler than March 2026)
• Counties in Texas reporting warmest March in 2026: 177 of 254 counties
• County in Texas with the highest record-breaking avg. temperature, March 2026: Webb County (74.2°F)
• Average March temperature in Webb County, 1901-2020: 65.4°F (8.8°F cooler than March 2026)

8. Oklahoma

• Average temperature in March 2026: 60.5°F (warmest March in history)
• Average March temperature in Oklahoma, 1901-2000: 49.3°F (11.2°F cooler than March 2026)
• Counties in Oklahoma reporting warmest March in 2026: 53 of 77 counties
• County in Oklahoma with the highest record-breaking avg. temperature, March 2026: Bryan County (64.6°F)
• Average March temperature in Bryan County, 1901-2020: 53.2°F (11.4°F cooler than March 2026)

7. New Mexico

• Average temperature in March 2026: 55.6°F (warmest March in history)
• Average March temperature in New Mexico, 1901-2000: 43.5°F (12.1°F cooler than March 2026)
• Counties in New Mexico reporting warmest March in 2026: 33 of 33 counties
• County in New Mexico with the highest record-breaking avg. temperature, March 2026: Eddy County (63.6°F)
• Average March temperature in Eddy County, 1901-2020: 51.9°F (11.7°F cooler than March 2026)

6. California

• Average temperature in March 2026: 61.4°F (warmest March in history)
• Average March temperature in California, 1901-2000: 48.8°F (12.6°F cooler than March 2026)
• Counties in California reporting warmest March in 2026: 58 of 58 counties
• County in California with the highest record-breaking avg. temperature, March 2026: Imperial County (77.3°F)
• Average March temperature in Imperial County, 1901-2020: 63.1°F (14.2°F cooler than March 2026)

5. Wyoming

• Average temperature in March 2026: 41.7°F (warmest March in history)
• Average March temperature in Wyoming, 1901-2000: 29.1°F (12.6°F cooler than March 2026)
• Counties in Wyoming reporting warmest March in 2026: 18 of 23 counties
• County in Wyoming with the highest record-breaking avg. temperature, March 2026: Goshen County (47.6°F)
• Average March temperature in Goshen County, 1901-2020: 34.4°F (13.2°F cooler than March 2026)

4. Nevada

• Average temperature in March 2026: 52.4°F (warmest March in history)
• Average March temperature in Nevada, 1901-2000: 39.5°F (12.9°F cooler than March 2026)
• Counties in Nevada reporting warmest March in 2026: 17 of 17 counties
• County in Nevada with the highest record-breaking avg. temperature, March 2026: Clark County (67.2°F)
• Average March temperature in Clark County, 1901-2020: 52.9°F (14.3°F cooler than March 2026)

3. Colorado

• Average temperature in March 2026: 46.8°F (warmest March in history)
• Average March temperature in Colorado, 1901-2000: 33.7°F (13.1°F cooler than March 2026)
• Counties in Colorado reporting warmest March in 2026: 64 of 64 counties
• County in Colorado with the highest record-breaking avg. temperature, March 2026: Baca County (54.0°F)
• Average March temperature in Baca County, 1901-2020: 41.8°F (12.2°F cooler than March 2026)

2. Utah

• Average temperature in March 2026: 51.1°F (warmest March in history)
• Average March temperature in Utah, 1901-2000: 37.3°F (13.8°F cooler than March 2026)
• Counties in Utah reporting warmest March in 2026: 29 of 29 counties
• County in Utah with the highest record-breaking avg. temperature, March 2026: Washington County (57.9°F)
• Average March temperature in Washington County, 1901-2020: 44.6°F (13.3°F cooler than March 2026)

1. Arizona

• Average temperature in March 2026: 63.4°F (warmest March in history)
• Average March temperature in Arizona, 1901-2000: 49.5°F (13.9°F cooler than March 2026)
• Counties in Arizona reporting warmest March in 2026: 15 of 15 counties
• County in Arizona with the highest record-breaking avg. temperature, March 2026: La Paz County (75.3°F)
• Average March temperature in La Paz County, 1901-2020: 60.4°F (14.9°F cooler than March 2026)