Massive Heat Dome Breaks March Records Across 14 States

Meteorologists warn the entire US will experience extreme heat as the dome spreads eastward.

Mar. 25, 2026 at 2:30am

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A record-smashing heat dome that baked the Southwest is now spreading eastward, with meteorologists predicting that the geographic area impacted will be one of the largest heat waves in American history. The heat dome has already broken March temperature records in 14 states, and temperatures are expected to reach the 90s Fahrenheit across the southern and central Plains by Wednesday.

Why it matters

This expansive heat wave highlights the growing threat of climate change, with extreme weather events becoming more frequent and intense. While not as severe as some past heat waves, the sheer geographic scale of this event is highly unusual and concerning.

The details

The heat dome, in which high pressure is trapping hot air over a large region, has already left Flagstaff, Arizona with 11 or 12 straight days of temperatures higher than the city's previous March record. Meteorologists warn that from one-quarter to one-third of the 48 continental states will be flirting with records for March as the dome moves east. While not as intense as some past heat waves, the geographic area impacted is likely to dwarf other historic events.

  • On Friday, four places in Arizona and California hit 112 degrees, smashing the record for the hottest March day in the continental United States by 4 degrees.
  • The heat dome will move on by late next week, but meteorologists say "we just have to give it time."

The players

Gregg Gallina

Meteorologist at the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center.

Jeff Masters

Meteorologist at Yale Climate Connections.

Chris Burt

Weather historian and author of "Extreme Weather".

Maximiliano Herrera

Climatologist and weather historian who tracks global weather records.

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What they’re saying

“Basically the entire US is going to be hot. The area of record temperatures is extremely large. That's the thing that's really bizarre.”

— Gregg Gallina, Meteorologist, National Weather Service

“We just have to give it time.”

— Jeff Masters, Meteorologist, Yale Climate Connections

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This expansive heat wave is a stark reminder of the growing threat of climate change, with extreme weather events becoming more frequent and widespread. While not as severe as past heat waves, the sheer geographic scale of this event underscores the need for urgent action to address the root causes of global warming.