WASHINGTON – March’s persistent unseasonable heat was so intense that the continental United States registered its most abnormally hot month in 132 years of records, according to federal weather data. And the next year or so looks to turn the dial up on global warmth even more, as some forecasts predict a brewing El Niño will reach superstrength.

Not only was it the country’s hottest March on record, but the amount it was above normal beat any other month in history for the Lower 48 states.

March’s average temperature of 50.85 degrees Fahrenheit was 9.35 degrees above the 20thcentury normal for March. That easily passed the old record of 8.9 degrees set in March 2012 as the most abnormally hot month on record — regardless of the month of the year — according to records released Wednesday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The average maximum temperature for March was especially high at 11.4 degrees above the 20th-century average and was almost a degree warmer than the average daytime high for April, NOAA said.

Six of the nation’s top 10 most abnormally hot months have been in the past 10 years.

This February, which was 6.57 degrees above 20th-century normal, was the 10th-highest above normal.

“What we experienced in March across the United States was unprecedented,” Climate Central meteorologist Shel Winkley said.

“One reason that’s so concerning is just the sheer volume of records, all-time records that were set and broken during that time period,” he said. “But also this is coming on the heels of what was the worst snow year. And the hottest winter of record. So we’re seeing this continuation of extraordinary heat that took place during the winter months, continuing into the spring months as well. That’s where it’s really concerning, it’s just the duration of this heat.”

More than 19,800 daily temperature records were broken for heat across the country in March, according to meteorologist Guy Walton, who analyzes NOAA data.