March 2025 in the US was marked by significant climate and weather events, including wildfires, floods, and record-setting warmth, aligning with broader trends of extreme weather driven by climate change.
Record-Setting Warmth:
- The average temperature for the contiguous U.S. in March 2025 was 46.9°F, which was 5.4°F above the 20th-century average. This ranked as the sixth-warmest March in the 131-year record.
- Most of the Lower 48 states experienced above-average to much-above-average temperatures, with the exceptions of parts of California and the Southeast.
- Several states experienced record or near-record warmth:
- Kansas had its fourth-warmest March on record (tied with 1946).
- Nebraska and Texas recorded their fifth-warmest March.
- Eighteen states had a March average temperature ranking among their ten warmest on record.
- Alaska's statewide average temperature was 5.9°F above the long-term average, ranking in the warmest third of its record. Southcentral Alaska and the North Slope experienced much-above-average temperatures.
- Hawaii also experienced above-average temperatures, with Kaua'i having its warmest March on record.
Floods:
- Oregon experienced significant flooding mid-month due to heavy rains and rapid snowmelt, leading to evacuations and damage along the southern part of the state.
- The Lower Rio Grande Valley was hit by severe flash flooding due to more than a foot (30 centimeters) of rain in 48 hours. This resulted in at least four deaths and the rescue of over 300 people.
- Heavy rain in the eastern Great Lakes region contributed to much-above-average precipitation in that area, with Michigan having its second-wettest and Wisconsin its fifth-wettest March on record.
- Historic flooding occurred in the Rio Grande Valley between March 26th and 28th, with rainfall reaching nearly 20 inches in some areas. This caused widespread damage, hundreds of rescues, and tragically, several fatalities.
Fires:
- Southern Appalachia was struck by fast-moving wildfires at the end of March, burning over 30,000 acres. These fires were fueled by strong winds and dry conditions, exacerbated by the large amount of dead trees from Hurricane Helene the previous year. Several states declared a state of emergency and issued mandatory evacuations.
- Texas experienced more than 55 fires throughout March, burning nearly 70,000 acres, leading to road closures and power outages.
- Oklahoma saw a significant fire outbreak in mid-March, with 150 fires burning 170,000 acres in about 24 hours, causing substantial damage and several deaths.
- North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia experienced scores of wildfires in early March due to strong winds and abnormally dry conditions.
In summary, March 2025 was a month of extreme weather contrasts across the U.S., with record warmth in many areas coinciding with significant flooding in some regions and widespread wildfires in others. These events highlight the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather, which many attribute to the changing climate.