Southwest Sees Record-Breaking March Heat

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A tiny desert community in Southern California reached 108 degrees on Wednesday, tying the highest March temperature ever recorded in the U.S. Forecasters warn that record-breaking winter heat across the Southwest will continue into the weekend, with several cities experiencing their hottest March days in decades.

Why it matters

The extreme heat in the Southwest is highly unusual for this time of year and is raising concerns about the impacts on public health, energy grids, and the environment. This type of early-season heat wave is a worrying sign of the effects of climate change in the region.

The details

North Shore, California tied a record high of 108 degrees on Wednesday, matching a mark first set in Rio Grande City, Texas in 1954. Nearby Thermal, California is forecast to hit 110 degrees on Friday. In Arizona, Phoenix set a record-high overnight low of 69 degrees on March 19th. Several other cities across the Southwest, including Las Vegas, Downtown Los Angeles, and Palm Springs, also experienced their hottest March days on record this week.

• On Wednesday, North Shore, California reached 108 degrees, tying the highest March temperature ever recorded in the U.S.
• On Thursday, Phoenix, Arizona is forecast to reach a high of around 105 degrees.
• On Friday, the town of Thermal, California is expected to hit 110 degrees.

What’s next

The extreme heat is expected to continue through the weekend before temperatures drop slightly starting on Sunday.