Dozens of heat records broken across Southwest as Midwest, Northeast prepare for more snow

Extreme warmth continues in the West while winter storms target the winter-weary Midwest and Northeast

Mar. 3, 2026 at 7:23am

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Multiple cities in the Southwest have seen record high temperatures this week, with at least 20 new records set across California, Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas on Friday. The extreme warmth is expected to continue through the weekend, while the Midwest and Northeast brace for more snow and ice in the coming days.

Why it matters

The record-breaking heat in the Southwest highlights the ongoing climate change challenges facing the region, while the impending winter storms in the Midwest and Northeast will disrupt travel and daily life for millions of people.

The details

According to the FOX Forecast Center, high temperatures in the Southwest will remain 15 to 25 degrees above average this weekend, and more than 60 daily record highs could be set through Sunday. This comes after a new national record was set in Falcon Dam, Texas, on Thursday at 106 degrees, the hottest winter day ever. Meanwhile, the Midwest and Northeast are preparing for three different winter storms that are set to bring snow and dangerous ice starting this weekend.

  • On Friday, at least 20 new record highs were set across California, Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.
  • On Thursday, a new national record was set in Falcon Dam, Texas, at 106 degrees, the hottest winter day ever.
  • The extreme warmth in the Southwest is expected to continue through the weekend.
  • The winter storms in the Midwest and Northeast are set to begin this weekend and continue into the first week of March.

The players

FOX Forecast Center

The weather forecasting division of FOX Weather, providing detailed analysis and predictions for the extreme weather events across the United States.

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What’s next

The FOX Forecast Center will continue to monitor the record-breaking heat in the Southwest and the incoming winter storms in the Midwest and Northeast, providing updates on the impacts and duration of these weather events.

The takeaway

The stark contrast between the record warmth in the Southwest and the impending winter storms in the Midwest and Northeast underscores the increasing extremes of weather patterns driven by climate change, which is posing significant challenges for communities across the country.