Death Valley Hits Record-Breaking March Heat

The national park in California recorded its hottest March day ever on the first day of spring.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 1:36am

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Death Valley National Park in eastern California recorded its hottest-ever March temperature on Friday, the first day of spring, reaching 105 degrees Fahrenheit. This broke the previous March record of 104 degrees set in 2022. The park has been experiencing unusually high temperatures for this time of year, reaching 100 degrees earlier this week, well ahead of the typical first 100-degree day in mid-April.

Why it matters

Death Valley is known as 'the hottest place on Earth' and holds the disputed global heat record of 134 degrees set in 1913. The park has been attracting more visitors this year due to a 'superbloom' of wildflowers and the re-emergence of Lake Manly, but the extreme heat poses risks to both visitors and the local environment.

The details

The record-breaking 105-degree temperature was recorded at 4:54 pm on Friday at the Furnace Creek visitor center. On Wednesday, the park had also tied its daily record of 102 degrees set in 2007. Blazing temperatures associated with a heat dome, a rare event in March, have been breaking records across the Southwest region.

  • On March 17, 2026, Death Valley reached 100 degrees for the first time this year.
  • On March 18, 2026, Death Valley reached 102 degrees, tying the daily record set in 2007.
  • On March 19, 2026, Death Valley reached 105 degrees, breaking the all-time March record of 104 degrees set in 2022.

The players

Death Valley National Park

A national park in eastern California known for being the hottest place on Earth, holding the disputed global heat record of 134 degrees set in 1913.

Morgan Stessman

A meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Las Vegas.

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What’s next

Park officials are monitoring the situation closely and may need to take measures to protect visitors from the extreme heat, such as limiting access or providing more shade structures.

The takeaway

The record-breaking March heat in Death Valley is a stark reminder of the impacts of climate change, with extreme temperatures becoming more common even in traditionally hot regions. This underscores the need for continued efforts to mitigate and adapt to the effects of global warming.