March average global land and ocean temperature anomalies, 1850-2024. March 2024 was the warmest March on record for the globe in NOAA’s 175-year record. The March global surface temperature was 1.35°C (2.43°F) above the 20th-century average of 12.7°C (54.9°F). This is 0.01°C warmer than the previous March record set in 2016, and the tenth consecutive month of record-high global temperatures. March 2024 marked the 48th consecutive March with global temperatures, at least nominally, above the 20th-century average. Graphic: NOAA / NCEI
March average global land and ocean temperature anomalies, 1850-2024. March 2024 was the warmest March on record for the globe in NOAA’s 175-year record. The March global surface temperature was 1.35°C (2.43°F) above the 20th-century average of 12.7°C (54.9°F). This is 0.01°C warmer than the previous March record set in 2016, and the tenth consecutive month of record-high global temperatures. March 2024 marked the 48th consecutive March with global temperatures, at least nominally, above the 20th-century average. Graphic: NOAA / NCEI

By Jonathan Erdman
12 April 2024

(Weather.com) – March was E​arth’s warmest on record, according to data from three separate agencies, the latest month in a stretch of heat records since the planet’s hottest year in 2023.

Another month, another record

In a report released Friday, NOAA found March’s globally average temperature was 2.43 degrees Fahrenheit above average, slightly warmer than 2016, the previous March record in their dataset dating to 1850.

N​ASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies also found March 2024 nudged slightly above 2016 in its dataset dating to the late 19th century. Earlier this month, the European Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) also found March was record-setting.

Globally averaged temperature data is synthesized from measurements taken by weather stations, ships, aircraft, and satellites.

Monthly global surface air temperature anomalies (°C) relative to 1850–1900 from January 1940 to March 2024, plotted as time series for each year. 2024 is shown with a thick yellow line, 2023 with a thick red line, and all other years with thin lines shaded according to the decade, from blue (1940s) to brick red (2020s). Data source: ERA5. Graphic: C3S / ECMWF
Monthly global surface air temperature anomalies (°C) relative to 1850–1900 from January 1940 to March 2024, plotted as time series for each year. 2024 is shown with a thick yellow line, 2023 with a thick red line, and all other years with thin lines shaded according to the decade, from blue (1940s) to brick red (2020s). Data source: ERA5. Graphic: C3S / ECMWF

Ten in a row

March was the 10th straight month Earth set a new warm record for that month, a streak that started in June 2023.

That includes its two hottest months – July and August – as well as the planet’s four most anomalously warm months – September, October, November and December – according to the ECMWF’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). All of those led to a record-shattering warm year in 2023.

A​ccording to climate scientist Zeke Hausfather, the longest record-setting month global temperature streak was 16 straight months from June 2015 through September 2016.

Where the most off-the-charts warmth was

Africa and South America had their record warmest March, according to NOAA.

I​t was Europe’s second warmest March. Austria’s lower elevations had their warmest March in records dating to the mid-18th century, while Germany had its warmest March since 1881, according to NOAA.

H​eat waves near the end of the month shattered national March records in central and eastern Europe, western Africa and southeast Asia. Tokyo, Japan, was among the many cities that set new March heat records, soaring to the low 80s Fahrenheit on the month’s final day.

March 2024 blended land and sea surface temperature percentiles. Ocean temperatures ranked warmest on record for March at 1.01°C (1.82°F) above average. This is 0.18°C (0.32°F) warmer than the second warmest March of 2016, and the 12th-consecutive monthly record high. These temperatures occurred as the current El Niño episode nears its end. Graphic: NOAA / NCEI
March 2024 blended land and sea surface temperature percentiles. Ocean temperatures ranked warmest on record for March at 1.01°C (1.82°F) above average. This is 0.18°C (0.32°F) warmer than the second warmest March of 2016, and the 12th-consecutive monthly record high. These temperatures occurred as the current El Niño episode nears its end. Graphic: NOAA / NCEI

O​cean warmth is still smashing records

For 12 months in a row, the planet’s oceans have been record-warm for that month. March 2024 was the latest month that happened, according to NOAA.

Particularly stunning has been the persistent warmth in parts of the tropical Atlantic Basin. University of Miami tropical scientist Brian McNoldy noted the total heat content of the Atlantic Ocean between the Lesser Antilles and western Africa was not only record warm in March, but was more typical of early July.

Will 2​024 set a new record?

Unlike last year, 2024 began with a strong El Niño already established. While that is expected to vanish as usual by late spring or summer, it’s expected to have lagging effects.

N​OAA’s March climate summary calculated a 55% chance that 2024 could be the planet’s record warmest year.

B​erkeley Earth, a climate science non-profit, estimated that chance was 62% in their February report.

Earth’s Warmest March Is 10th Straight Record Month, NOAA and NASA Found