A historic March heatwave has swept across the western United States, breaking high-temperature records in California, Nevada, and Arizona. Temperatures have soared 25-35°F above normal, prompting widespread heat warnings and closures.
In California, the National Weather Service described the heat as 'extremely rare for March'. Palm Springs is expected to reach 108°F, while a tiny desert community, North Shore, tied the highest March temperature ever recorded in the US at 108°F. Downtown Los Angeles hit 94°F, beating its previous daily record for 18 March set in 1997.
Phoenix, Arizona, set a record overnight low of 69°F for 19 March, with daytime highs expected to reach 105°F—nearly two months earlier than the average first 105°F day. In Nevada, Las Vegas set a March record on Wednesday, and Reno has experienced record-setting warmth.
National parks have urged caution: the Grand Canyon is under an extreme heat warning with temperatures possibly reaching 104°F, and hiking trails at Lake Mead have been closed. Officials advise avoiding strenuous activity between 10am and 4pm.
Temperatures are forecast to ease next week, with Los Angeles dipping to around 80°F, but the historic March heatwave continues to rewrite records across the region.
