April 3rd, 2026 by Roy W. Spencer, Ph. D.
March 2026 was record-warm for the Lower 48.
The Version 6.1 global average lower tropospheric temperature (LT) anomaly for March, 2026 was +0.38 deg. C departure from the 1991-2020 mean, statistically unchanged from the February, 2026 value of +0.39 deg. C.
https://www.drroyspencer.com/2026/04/uah-v6-1-global-temperature-update-for-march-2026-0-38-deg-c/
Record Warmth in the Contiguous U.S. (Lower 48)
For the Lower 48, the March 2026 temperature anomaly was easily the record warmest of all months in the 47+ year satellite record: +3.7 deg. C above average for all Marches. Second place goes to March 2012, with +2.2 deg. C above the mean, while 3rd place goes to December 2025 at +2.1 deg. C.
Interestingly, December through April are periods of large variability for the Lower 48. All 6 of the warmest months (in terms of departures from normal) since 1979 occurred in December through April. Furthermore, all 8 of the coldest months occurred in December through April.
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The full UAH Global Temperature Report, along with the LT global gridpoint anomaly map for March, 2026 and a more detailed analysis by John Christy, should be available within the next several days here.
This has been one of our best weather threads with the magnitude of this record warm March exceeding all other months in recent history by a wide margin IN THE UNITED STATES.
Historic SW US March heatwave
48 responses |
Started by WxFollower - March 18, 2026, 12:24 a.m.
https://www.marketforum.com/forum/topic/118783/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contiguous_United_States
The contiguous United States, also known as the U.S. mainland, officially referred to as the conterminous United States, consists of the 48 adjoining U.S. states and the District of Columbia of the United States in central North America
If just the contiguous United States were a country, it would be fifth on the list of countries and dependencies by area, behind Russia, Canada, China, and Brazil.
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The contiguous United States (the 48 lower states and D.C.) covers an area of roughly 3.12 million square miles (8.08 million
). This area constitutes approximately 1.5% to 1.6% of the Earth's total surface area and roughly 5.4% to 6% of the world's total land area (approx. 57.5 million sq miles).
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Let me repeat that: This area constitutes approximately 1.5% to 1.6% of the Earth's total surface area