Over 1,000 records shattered across the Southwest as worst March heat wave ever continues impacting millions
More than 85 locations have already set new daily records for the hottest March day on record, including in California, and in major cities like Las Vegas, Denver and Phoenix.
The most intense March heat wave ever has been one for the record books and there are no signs the high temperatures will cool down as we move through the weekend.
More than 85 locations have already set new daily records for the hottest March day on record, including in California, and in major cities like Las Vegas, Denver and Phoenix.
While daily records are being smashed left and right across the West, the historic heat wave is expected to break both March and April monthly heat records.
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In California on Thursday, both Thermal and Indio hit 108°F, tying the U.S. record high for the month of March. Though it didn't quite reach a U.S. high, the temperature set a new record for the hottest March day in California state history.
Thursday's high temperature ties the U.S. record set in both Rio Grande City, Texas on March, 31 1954 and Falcon Dam, Texas on March 27, 2020.
This historic heat wave has delivered record-breaking March temperatures across a vast stretch of the West, breaking records in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, California and Nevada.
In the entertainment capital of the world in the Mojave Desert, Las Vegas hit 97°F on Friday, breaking the daily and monthly record high for the third day in a row, according to NWS Las Vegas.
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Record temperatures across California have been set for multiple days over the past week. Downtown Los Angeles broke a record previously set in 1997 on Friday, at 96°.
In 131 years of record keeping, Phoenix has hit 100° just once in March. On Thursday and Friday, Phoenix hit 105°F, recording its warmest March day during this heat wave.
Temperatures are expected to stay high on Saturday, before slight cooling arrives on Sunday, NWS Phoenix said.
Other cities that notched daily high records include: Kansas City, Missouri, Omaha, Nebraska and Flagstaff, Arizona.
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An Extreme Heat Warning is in effect until Sunday night for portions of southwest Arizona and southern California. In Phoenix, it's the earliest heat warning to go into effect by more than a month. The earliest instance occurred between April 26th and 30th of 2020.
On Thursday and Friday, Denver and Boulder both reached 85°F, nearly 30° above the March average. For cities that can often see blizzards in March, Thursday's unprecedented temperature underscores the strength of this historic heat wave.
As we move into the weekend, temperatures have no plans of cooling down.
NWS Boulder said it expected to set a record for hottest March day on record with temperatures in the 80s and 90s along Interstate 25 Saturday.
As the heat continues to intensify, more than 1000 record highs have been set since Mar. 11, the FOX Forecast Center said.
High temperatures are soaring as much as 35° above average for this time of year from California to the Great Plains, with the hottest days expected to occur through Saturday.
Even beyond Saturday, temperatures will remain hot enough to shatter records for dozens of locations into the middle of next week.
Many locations may break their daily records for 7+ consecutive days, a feat of endurance that is quite rare.
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Extreme Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories are now in place for nearly 40 million across California and into the deserts of New Mexico and Arizona.
This heat wave is expected to break not just daily records, but all-time monthly records for March—and potentially even April, by significant margins.
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