California Community Ties All-Time March Temperature Record

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A tiny desert community in Southern California reached 108 degrees Fahrenheit on Wednesday, tying the highest March temperature ever recorded in the United States. The record-breaking heat came amid a record-breaking winter heat wave in the Southwest that is expected to continue through the weekend, with several cities potentially seeing their earliest 100-plus degree days on record.

Why it matters

This extreme heat event in March highlights the growing impacts of climate change, with temperatures rising well above normal seasonal levels and setting new all-time records for the month. The early arrival of triple-digit temperatures poses risks to public health and the environment, and could foreshadow an unusually hot and dry summer to come.

The details

The 108F temperature in North Shore, California matched the previous all-time March record set by Rio Grande City, Texas in 1954. Other cities across the Southwest also saw record-breaking heat, including Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Palm Springs. Meteorologists say this has been one of the most significant March heat waves in recorded history, with many locations breaking daily high temperature records that stood for decades.

• On March 19, 2026, North Shore, California reached 108F.
• On March 26, 1988, Phoenix previously reached 101F, the only other time the city has hit 100F in March.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Meteorologists expect the record-breaking heat to continue through the weekend, with the possibility of even higher temperatures in some areas. Authorities are warning residents to take precautions against the extreme heat.