Meteorological winter hit record highs across the contiguous U.S., driven by an intense heatwave in the West.

Exceptional warmth in Western states outweighed freezing temperatures in the East, shifting the national average.

Phoenix was among 100+ climate sites to set an all-time warmest winter record this season.

Denver joined the list of Western cities experiencing record-breaking heat instead of typical winter chills.

Along with record heat, Salt Lake City faced minimal snowfall, impacting the local climate and economy.

While the West baked, Washington, D.C. endured its coldest winter in 23 years.

Despite the record cold, D.C. only saw 9.6 inches of snow throughout the entire meteorological winter.

The disparity between Eastern cold and Western heat highlights a season of extreme climatic contrasts.

Many Western sites recorded not only high heat but also some of their lowest snow totals on record.

This winter now stands as the second-warmest since national record-keeping began.

As records continue to fall, experts monitor how these shifts will impact water supplies and ecosystem health.