Seventeen states experienced record highs in March, with temperatures reaching up to 30°F above normal across parts of the American West. The Arctic has warmed nearly four times faster than the rest of the world over the past 43 years, leaving it roughly 3°C warmer on average than it was in 1980. Despite this, climate scientists have not yet identified the cause of this massive heat wave. The record-breaking temperatures in the West also contributed to increased wildfire risk, with wildfires burning 1,510,973 acres across 15,436 fires compared to the ten-year average of 664,792 acres and 9,195 fires.