March 2026 brought some of the hottest temperatures recorded since federal records began 132 years ago in the US. The average temperature across the nation was 9.35 degrees above the average temperature for March in the 20th century. Apart from being unusually warm, last winter and this spring have brought intense droughts to the western United States. In Colorado, the snowpack in the mountains is only 40% of normal levels, the lowest on record.

There are a variety of factors that contribute to the record-breaking heat in the Western United States. One is global climate change, which has induced a massive heat phenomenon in the area called the heat dome. This is where a high-pressure region in the atmosphere hovers over an area, not allowing any storm systems to pass through and concentrating heat, causing intense heat waves. Another factor that has contributed to the hot temperatures in Colorado is the reduced snowpack, which cools down the air when at normal levels. 

Another extreme that Colorado is seeing is severe drought. In the Colorado River Basin, a watershed that supplies water to seven states, water levels are one-third of their normal levels. Precipitation over the winter and during spring in the state have been startlingly low, with this winter being the 5th driest winter on record. The severe drought that Colorado is experiencing has many impacts. Due to a reduced availability of water, there will be water restrictions on water uses like watering lawns. Fire danger will also be very high during the summer of 2026, as a lack of water during the winter has created dry brush that is easy to light on fire.

Many weather forecasters are predicting a rare weather phenomenon called the Super El Nino. This is a variation of the normal El Nino weather pattern, which is when the ocean around the equator heats up, except this one will bring a more severe temperature change across the globe. This will push the record-breaking heat up even higher, and will bring extreme weather conditions to different locations. Fortunately, weather forecasters predict that this weather phenomenon may bring rain to the Western United States, though it will be even hotter. Other regions will experience severe drought or other extreme weather conditions.

In a drought, it is very important to be aware of your water usage and to not waste water on unnecessary things. Keep in mind that long showers, watering your lawn, and even an overuse of AI are all uses of water that we can cut back on in times of drought. Also, be cautious in high fire danger because just one spark can light a massive wildfire that can be devastating to people’s lives and homes. It is important to be mindful of these things in a time of severe drought and a heat wave.

Cites –

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2024/01/09/earth-shattered-global-heat-record-in-23-and-its-flirting-with-warming-limit-european-agency-says/

https://climatecheck.com/risks/heat/what-is-a-heat-dome

https://www.worldweatherattribution.org/record-shattering-march-temperatures-in-western-north-america-virtually-impossible-without-climate-change/#:~:text=Heatwaves%20as%20observed%20in%20March,a%20factor%20of%20about%20800.

https://www.worldweatherattribution.org/record-shattering-march-temperatures-in-western-north-america-virtually-impossible-without-climate-change/#:~:text=Heatwaves%20as%20observed%20in%20March,a%20factor%20of%20about%20800.

https://www.climate.gov/maps-data/data-snapshots/data-source/precipitation-monthly-difference-average

https://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/local/colorado/2026/04/10/what-is-a-super-el-nio-could-it-end-colorado-drought/89503734007/

https://gizmodo.com/this-growing-el-nino-could-irreversibly-alter-earths-climate-experts-warn-2000751194

https://insideclimatenews.org/news/13032026/march-heat-wave-western-united-states/#:~:text=An%20early%2Dseason%20heat%20wave,this%20situation%20worse%2C%20experts%20say.