Bay Area Sizzles as Unseasonable Warmth Grips the West

Rare winter heat wave brings record-breaking temperatures to San Francisco and beyond

Mar. 18, 2026 at 7:18pm by Ben Kaplan

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A rare winter heat wave is sweeping across the U.S. West, bringing unusually high temperatures and threatening records from California to the desert Southwest. In San Francisco, where fog and cool summers are the norm, residents shed layers and flocked to Crissy Field as the city experiences its hottest March in at least two decades.

Why it matters

This unseasonable warmth is highly unusual for the Bay Area, which typically experiences cool, foggy weather even in the summer months. The heat wave is part of a broader pattern of extreme weather events driven by climate change, raising concerns about the impacts on public health, energy usage, and the region's ecosystems.

The details

Photos show San Franciscans enjoying the unexpected warmth, with many people visiting Crissy Field and other outdoor spaces to soak up the sun. The high temperatures are threatening to break long-standing records in the region.

  • The heat wave began sweeping across the U.S. West in mid-March 2026.

The players

San Francisco

A major city in California known for its cool, foggy summers, which is currently experiencing record-breaking March temperatures.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

This heat wave is a stark reminder of the impacts of climate change, as extreme weather events become more frequent and intense. It underscores the need for proactive measures to address the root causes of global warming and build resilience in communities across the West.