The average temperature in the contiguous United States was 51.1 degrees Fahrenheit (10.6 Celsius) in March, or 8.6 degrees above the 20th century average and 0.5 degrees more than the previous all-time high set in 1910, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. That was just one of more than 15,200 temperature records broken during March, according to NOAA.
Every U.S. state set a daily record and 25 states east of the Rocky Mountains had their all-time hottest March, according to NOAA. In addition, 15 states had monthly temperatures in the top 10. There were 21 instances of the nighttime temperatures being as warm, or warmer, than the existing record daytime temperature for a given date.
The warm weather also contributed to 223 reported tornadoes in the U.S., more than the 80 normally seen during the month.
The cold season, which is defined as October 2011 through March 2012 and an important period for national heating needs, was the second warmest on record for the contiguous U.S. with a nationally-averaged temperature 3.8 degrees F above average. Only the cold season of 1999-2000 was warmer. Twenty-one states across the Midwest and Northeast, areas of the country with high seasonal heating demands, were record warm for the six-month period. Natural gas prices have fallen 30 percent this year partially because of the warmer weather and rising production.
