Heat wave smashes records across the Southwest as extreme temperatures impact millions

The astir aggravated March heat wave ever has been 1 for the grounds books and determination are nary signs the precocious temperatures volition chill down arsenic we determination into the weekend.

More than 65 locations person already acceptable caller regular records for the hottest March time connected record, including successful California, arsenic good arsenic notching regular records successful large cities similar Las Vegas, Denver and Phoenix. 

People flock to Baker Beach adjacent the Golden Gate Bridge arsenic a vigor advisory was issued successful San Francisco, California, United States connected March 16, 2026. 

(Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images / Getty Images)

While regular records are being smashed near and close crossed the West, the historical vigor question is expected to interruption some March and April monthly vigor records.

In California connected Thursday, some Thermal and Indio deed 108°F, tying the U.S. grounds precocious for the period of March. Though it didn't rather scope a U.S. high, the somesthesia acceptable a caller grounds for the hottest March time successful California authorities history.

Thursday's precocious somesthesia ties the U.S. grounds acceptable successful some Rio Grande City, Texas connected March, 31 1954 and Falcon Dam, Texas connected March 27, 2020.

This historical vigor question has delivered record-breaking March temperatures crossed a immense agelong of the West, breaking records successful Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, California and Nevada. 

Record somesthesia highs for the period of March crossed the West arsenic of March 17, 2025.

(FOX Weather)

In the amusement superior of the satellite successful the Mojave Desert, Las Vegas deed 95°F connected Thursday, the hottest March somesthesia connected record. Though a new-record, the accomplishment whitethorn beryllium short-lived arsenic forecasts telephone for hotter temperatures into the weekend. 

In 131 years of grounds keeping, Phoenix has deed 100° conscionable erstwhile successful March. On Thursday, Phoenix deed 105°F and —along with astatine slightest 60 different locations — recorded its warmest March time during this vigor wave. Into the weekend, forecasts telephone for temperatures to proceed to emergence arsenic the March grounds could beryllium pushed a fewer ticks further. 

Other cities that notched regular precocious records include: Kansas City, Missouri, Omaha, Nebraska, Flagstaff, Arizona and a myriad of different cities. 

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In Phoenix, it's the earliest vigor informing to spell into effect by much than a month. The earliest lawsuit occurred betwixt April 26th and 30th of 2020. Los Angeles is besides nether a informing done Friday, and successful Las Vegas, the informing lasts done Sunday.

On Thursday, Denver reached 85°F, astir 30° supra the March average. For a metropolis that tin often spot blizzards successful March, Thursday's unprecedented somesthesia underscores the spot of this historical vigor wave. 

As we determination into the weekend, temperatures person nary plans of cooling down. 

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As the vigor continues to intensify, much than 820 grounds highs person been acceptable since Mar. 11, the FOX Forecast Center said.

High temperatures are soaring arsenic overmuch arsenic 35° supra mean for this clip of twelvemonth from California to the Great Plains, with the hottest days expected to hap done Saturday.

Even beyond Saturday, temperatures volition stay blistery capable to shatter records for dozens of locations into the mediate of adjacent week. 

Many locations whitethorn interruption their regular records for 7+ consecutive days, a feat of endurance that is rather rare.

People photograph the tulips astatine Descanso Gardens successful La Cañada Flintridge connected Wednesday, March 18, 2026 during the vigor wave. 

(Sarah Reingewirtz/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Extreme Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories are present successful spot for astir 40 cardinal crossed California and into the deserts of New Mexico and Arizona. 

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This vigor question is expected to interruption not conscionable regular records, but all-time monthly records for March—and perchance adjacent April, by important margins.