Extreme Heat Grips Southwest US and Even Nebraska

Record-breaking temperatures close out a week of scorching weather across the region.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 3:35am

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Temperatures at or above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.7 C) were forecast in the Southwest, closing a remarkable week of record-breaking heat. Experts say April, May and June are likely to be hotter than normal almost everywhere in the U.S. The heat even stretched as far north as Nebraska, where temperatures exceeded 90 degrees (32.2 C) on Saturday.

Why it matters

The extreme heat across the Southwest and Midwest is an early sign of what experts predict will be a hotter than normal spring and summer for much of the country. This raises concerns about drought, wildfires, and the health impacts on vulnerable populations.

The details

Parts of California and Arizona were under extreme heat warnings again Saturday, with the Yuma Desert in southwestern Arizona reaching 112 degrees (43.3 C) on Friday, a record for the highest March temperature in the United States. In the Midwest, temperatures exceeding 90 degrees (32.2 C) were predicted across Nebraska, followed by a big drop to the 50s and 60s on Sunday. A red flag warning was posted in Nebraska, indicating a higher risk for wildfires.

  • On Friday, parts of Southern California and the Yuma Desert in Arizona hit 112 degrees (43.3 C), a record for the highest March temperature in the United States.
  • On Saturday, temperatures at or above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.7 C) were forecast in the Southwest.

The players

Win Marsh

A 63-year-old hiker who was forced to return home early from a 170-mile hike in Arizona due to the extreme heat.

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What they’re saying

“We know our limits. We can't hike when our bodies can't cool down. There's no shade out there, and water sources are drying up. … We promised our kids we wouldn't do sketchy stuff. We're not out there for a search-and-rescue event.”

— Win Marsh

What’s next

Experts predict the extreme heat will continue through April, May, and June, raising concerns about drought, wildfires, and health impacts on vulnerable populations.

The takeaway

The early onset of extreme heat across the Southwest and Midwest is a troubling sign of the climate challenges facing the region, underscoring the need for communities to prepare for more frequent and intense heatwaves in the years ahead.