Southwest Heat Wave Ties U.S. March Temperature Record at 108°F in California
A Southwest heat wave pushed temperatures far above normal, with North Shore, California hitting 108°F on March 18, 2026, tying the highest March temperature ever recorded in the U.S. (Rio Grande City, Texas, 1954). Forecasts showed more extreme heat across the West — Thermal was forecast to reach 110°F, Phoenix recorded an earliest-ever 101°F, Las Vegas set a new March high at 99°F, downtown Los Angeles reached 94°F and Palm Springs hit 104°F — and the NWS called it one of the most significant March heat waves, with many locations 20–30°F above normal.
📌 Key Facts
- North Shore, California reached 108°F on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, tying the highest March temperature ever recorded in the United States (previously set in Rio Grande City, Texas, in 1954).
- The nearby community of Thermal, California was forecast to reach 110°F on Friday, which would break the existing U.S. March temperature record if realized.
- Phoenix reached 101°F on March 18 — its earliest 100-degree day on record and only the second time the city has hit triple digits in March (the previous was 100°F on March 26, 1988).
- Las Vegas hit 99°F on March 18, setting a new all‑time March record and surpassing its prior March high of 93°F from 2022.
- Downtown Los Angeles reached 94°F on March 18, exceeding its previous daily record of 87°F from 1997, while Palm Springs reached 104°F, tying its hottest March day on record from 1966.
- NWS meteorologist Bryan Lewis described the event as one of the most significant March heat waves in recorded history, noting many locations were 20–30°F above normal and that “so many records” had been broken in a short span.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2022, North Shore, California, had a population of approximately 3,373, with 95.3% identifying as Hispanic, 3.3% as Other, and 0.8% as White, reflecting significant demographic concentration in a heat-affected area.
North Shore Demographics | Current California Census Data — california-demographics.com
Demographic changes in the Coachella Valley, including areas like North Shore, have been shaped by immigration from Mexico for agricultural labor, with Mexican immigrants and their descendants providing most of the manpower for the region's agriculture and tourism industries since the mid-20th century.
A City of Immigrants | Palm Springs Life — palmspringslife.com
Racial and ethnic disparities in heat-related mortality in the US are associated with factors such as occupational exposure, with Black and Hispanic populations facing higher risks due to overrepresentation in outdoor work, urban heat island effects, and lower access to air conditioning.
Racial disparities in deaths related to extreme temperatures in the United States: A nationwide county-level analysis from 2008 to 2021 — sciencedirect.com
Climate change has increased the likelihood and severity of heat waves in the Western US, with studies showing that human-caused warming is making extreme March heat events more frequent in the Southwest.
Extraordinary, climate change-fueled heat wave envelops the West, smashing records — cnn.com
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- North Shore, California, hit 108°F on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, tying the highest March temperature ever recorded in the United States, previously set in Rio Grande City, Texas, in 1954.
- The nearby community of Thermal, California, is forecast to reach 110°F on Friday, which would break the existing March record if realized.
- Phoenix reached 101°F on March 18, its earliest 100-degree day on record and only the second time it has hit triple digits in March (the previous was 100°F on March 26, 1988).
- Las Vegas reached 99°F, setting a new all‑time March record and breaking its prior March high of 93°F from 2022.
- Downtown Los Angeles hit 94°F, surpassing its previous daily record of 87°F set in 1997, while Palm Springs reached 104°F, tying its hottest March day on record from 1966.
- NWS meteorologist Bryan Lewis said this is one of the most significant March heat waves in recorded history, with many locations running 20–30°F above normal and “so many records” being broken in a short span.