Scorching Temperature Would Set All-Time Winter Record in US

A rare February high temperature surged past 100 degrees in the U.S. on Thursday, breaking an all-time record.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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A blistering reading of 106 degrees Fahrenheit at Falcon Dam in Starr County, Texas, has stunned meteorologists, with AccuWeather noting that it would rank as the hottest winter temperature ever recorded in the United States, if confirmed. The exceptional heat was recorded on Thursday and would surpass all previously documented U.S. February and overall winter temperatures, marking a historic benchmark for winter extremes.

Why it matters

The surge in temperatures comes as an unusual high-pressure system has supercharged temperatures far beyond seasonal expectations in parts of the southern Plains, adding to growing evidence of unusual winter warmth in the region. This record-breaking heat raises concerns about the impacts of climate change and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events.

The details

The reading of 106°F at Falcon Dam would set a new high temperature record for the month of February and the entire winter season (December-February) in the United States, if confirmed. Falcon Dam sits on the Rio Grande, straddling the U.S.-Mexico border in southern Texas. The NWS Weather Prediction Center also recorded a high of 104°F near La Puerta, Texas, marking the first 100-degree national high temperature of 2026.

  • On Thursday, February 27, 2026, the temperature reached 106°F at Falcon Dam in Starr County, Texas.
  • On the same day, the NWS Weather Prediction Center recorded a high of 104°F near La Puerta, Texas.

The players

AccuWeather

An American media company that provides commercial weather forecasting services worldwide.

National Weather Service (NWS)

The primary weather forecasting agency of the United States government, which is a part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Falcon Dam

A dam located on the Rio Grande, straddling the U.S.-Mexico border between Starr County in southern Texas and Nueva Ciudad Guerrero in Tamaulipas, Mexico.

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What they’re saying

“If confirmed, the high temperature yesterday of 106°F at Falcon Dam, Texas, sets a new high temperature for the month of February and also for Winter (Dec.-Feb.) in the United States.”

— AccuWeather (X)

“I guess it's true… Everything is bigger in Texas. Tremendous heat today - 104° F - in February - makes this the Hottest temperature ever recorded in winter in the US!”

— Jeff Berardelli, WFLA-TV chief meteorologist (X)

What’s next

The National Weather Service office in Brownsville, Texas, which issues forecasts for the Falcon Dam region, has warned that the unseasonably warm conditions are expected to continue through at least Friday. Temperature forecasts anticipate that Starr County will reach the 90s next week, and Texas is expected to experience above-average temperatures over the next six to 10 days, according to outlooks from the NWS Climate Prediction Center.

The takeaway

This record-breaking heat in the middle of winter highlights the growing threat of climate change and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events. The surge in temperatures far beyond seasonal norms in the southern Plains region underscores the need for communities to prepare for and adapt to the impacts of a changing climate.