THE GLOBE STAYED WARM IN MARCH. IT WAS THE 11TH STRAIGHT MONTH FOR RECORD HEAT. IN NEW MEXICO, FOR THE MIDDLE AND LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY, IT WAS A SIMILAR STORY. ANDY CHURCH WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ALBUQUERQUE SAYS IT WAS THE FOURTH WARMEST MARCH ON RECORD.
HE SAYS THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE WAS 51-POINT-9 DEGREES, 5-POINT-4 DEGREES ABOVE AVERAGE.
STATEWIDE TEMPERATURES WERE ALSO ABOUT FIVE DEGREES ABOVE AVERAGE.