A quick federal analysis blames most of the record warm March weather that gripped two-thirds of the country on freak chance, a nice southerly wind and only a tiny part man-made global warming.
For much of March, record temperatures hit as high as 35 degrees above normal and averaged about 18 degrees warmer than usual.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration analyzed the causes and chances of what it nicknamed "meteorological March madness." Meteorologist Martin Hoerling said the main cause was a persistent warm wind sending toasty air north from the Gulf of Mexico.
He said blame for a version of this heat wave is about five parts randomness to one part global warming. Climate change alone can only account for about 2 degrees of the added heat.
© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.