California Ties All-Time U.S. Winter Heat Record

Nevada and Arizona also shattered March temperature records as a heat wave intensified across the Southwest.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 3:35am by Ben Kaplan

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California tied the highest winter temperature ever measured in the U.S. on Wednesday, as a heat wave intensified and shattered March heat records across the state. A weather station in the Coachella Valley recorded a temperature of 108 degrees, matching the U.S. March record. Nearby areas in the Riverside County desert also reached 107 degrees, while Palm Springs hit 105 degrees - its hottest March on record. The heat was not confined to California, as Reno, Las Vegas, and Phoenix all set new all-time high March temperatures as well.

Why it matters

This extreme heat event in March highlights the growing threat of climate change, with winter temperatures reaching summerlike levels in parts of the Southwest. The high temperatures pose risks to public health and safety, especially for vulnerable populations, and can have significant impacts on agriculture, energy usage, and the environment.

The details

The 108-degree reading in the Coachella Valley tied the U.S. March record set in Rio Grande City, Texas. Other notable records included South Lake Tahoe reaching 76 degrees, 5 degrees higher than any previous March day, and numerous daily and monthly records falling across the Bay Area and Central Valley of California. The heat was not limited to California, with Reno, Las Vegas, and Phoenix all setting new all-time high March temperatures as well.

  • On Wednesday, March 19, 2026, a weather station in the Dos Palmas Preserve of eastern Coachella Valley recorded a temperature of 108 degrees.
  • On the same day, nearby weather stations in Indio and Thermal (Riverside County) reached 107 degrees, and Palm Springs hit 105 degrees - its hottest March on record.
  • South Lake Tahoe's high of 76 degrees was 5 degrees higher than any previous March day since temperature observations began there in 1969.

The players

National Weather Service

The federal agency responsible for weather forecasting and issuing weather-related warnings and advisories.

Christopher Burt

A weather historian who confirmed that the 108-degree reading in the Coachella Valley tied the U.S. March record.

Climate Prediction Center

A branch of the National Weather Service that issued an extended forecast predicting above-normal temperatures across parts of the Southwest through April 1.

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The takeaway

This extreme heat event in March underscores the growing threat of climate change, with winter temperatures in parts of the Southwest reaching summerlike levels and breaking long-standing records. The impacts of this heat wave on public health, agriculture, energy usage, and the environment will need to be closely monitored in the coming days and weeks.