An early-season heat wave is shattering records across the Western United States. Numerous all-time high temperatures have been broken in California and Arizona this week, on Wednesday and Thursday.
Record-Breaking Heat
The community of Martinez Lake in Arizona’s Yuma County reached 110 degrees Fahrenheit on Thursday, establishing a modern U.S. Record for the highest March temperature, according to the National Weather Service. Around 38 million people across Southern California and the Desert Southwest are currently under heat alerts.
Palm Springs, California, hit 107 degrees on Thursday, surpassing its previous March record of 105 degrees set just the day before. The city of Indio, in the Coachella Valley, also set a new March record on Thursday, reaching 108 degrees. San Francisco experienced its hottest March temperature ever on Thursday, hitting 85 degrees, and recorded four consecutive days at or above 84 degrees – a rare occurrence for the city, which typically averages only seven days a year at or above that mark.
Record highs were also reported in Riverside, California (101 degrees on Thursday), Anaheim (95 degrees on Wednesday), Sacramento (88 degrees on Wednesday), and San Diego (85 degrees on Wednesday). Phoenix, Arizona, recorded its earliest triple-digit day on Wednesday (102 degrees), followed by 105 degrees on Thursday. According to the National Weather Service, This represents the earliest 100-degree day in Phoenix since March 26, 1988.
Expanding Heat
Las Vegas, Nevada, also set a new March record on Thursday, reaching 95 degrees. New records were established in Utah and Colorado as well: Salt Lake City hit 81 degrees on Thursday – its earliest 80-degree day on record – and Denver reached 85 degrees. The heat is expected to persist and expand eastward into the Rockies and the central and southern Plains.
Forecasts indicate Phoenix could reach 106 degrees on Friday and Saturday, and temperatures in Las Vegas could reach 100 degrees on Friday. The National Weather Service warns that extreme heat, combined with gusty winds and low humidity, is increasing wildfire risks in Colorado. Even areas of Oregon, Idaho, and Wyoming are experiencing unseasonably warm conditions, with Boise, Idaho, recording 80 degrees on Wednesday – the earliest date for that temperature in records dating back to 1875.
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused this heat wave?
This week’s heat dome is caused by a stubborn ridge of high pressure that has trapped hot air over the West like a lid on a pot.
How far east is the heat expected to spread?
Heat will continue to build heading into the weekend and is expected to move east into the Rockies and the central and southern Plains. By Saturday, temperatures in Texas could reach the middle to upper 90s, and in Nebraska and South Dakota, the low to middle 90s.
What was the previous record high in Palm Springs for March?
The previous record high for Palm Springs in March was 105 degrees, set on Wednesday.
As temperatures continue to climb across the West, how might communities prepare for increasingly frequent and intense heat events?
