The United States recently experienced its hottest March on record, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Ten states recorded their highest temperatures in 131 years, stretching from the West Coast through the Great Plains and into the South. This unprecedented heat has led to accelerated snowmelt, straining water resources, particularly in the already dry regions of the West and Southwest. The period from January through March was also the driest on record nationally, with precipitation totals well below average, exacerbating existing water shortages and increasing the risk of wildfires.