Southwest Heat Wave Ties U.S. March Temperature Record at 108°F in North Shore, California
North Shore, California, reached 108°F on March 18, 2026, tying the highest March temperature ever recorded in the U.S. (set in Rio Grande City, Texas, in 1954), while nearby Thermal was forecast to reach 110°F and potentially break the record. The heat wave has produced numerous city records — Phoenix hit an earliest-ever 101°F in March, Las Vegas reached 99°F, downtown Los Angeles 94°F and Palm Springs 104°F — left more than 41 million people under heat alerts, and was called “one of the most significant March heat waves in recorded history” by the NWS.
📌 Key Facts
- North Shore, California, hit 108°F on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, tying the highest March temperature recorded in the U.S. (previously Rio Grande City, Texas, in 1954).
- The nearby community of Thermal, California, was forecast to reach 110°F on Friday, which would break the U.S. March record if realized; many other cities were projected to see their earliest 100°F day on record with temperatures staying 20–30°F above normal into the weekend.
- Phoenix reached 101°F on March 18 — its earliest 100-degree day on record and only the second March triple-digit reading on record there (the other 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.
- Palm Springs reached 104°F, tying its hottest March day on record from 1966.
- National Weather Service meteorologist Bryan Lewis called this one of the most significant March heat waves in recorded history, noting many locations were running 20–30°F above normal and that so many records had been broken in a short span.
- More than 41 million people were under heat alerts through Sunday, according to CBS News meteorologist Nikki Nolan.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2021, the heat-related death rate for Black people in the US was 0.6 per 100,000 population, twice that of White people at 0.3 per 100,000, while Hispanic people had a rate of 0.3 per 100,000 similar to White people, and Asian people had a lower rate of 0.1 per 100,000. US population percentages are approximately 60% White, 13% Black, 19% Hispanic, and 6% Asian.
Continued Rises in Extreme Heat and Implications for Health Disparities — KFF
In 2023, 13% of Asian-led households, 12% of Black-led households, and 12% of Hispanic-led households reported lacking an air conditioning unit, compared to 8% of White-led households.
Disparities in Access to Air Conditioning And Implications for Heat-Related Health Risks — KFF
From 2019 to 2023, heat-related mortality rates per 100,000 population increased significantly among Hispanic populations with an average annual percent change of 28.7% and among non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native populations with 24.7%.
Trends in Rates of Heat-Related Deaths Across Population Groups — United States, 2019–2023 — PMC
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Confirms the record-tying 108°F reading occurred in North Shore, California, explicitly naming the community.
- Notes that more than 41 million people remain under heat alerts through Sunday, according to CBS News meteorologist Nikki Nolan.
- Provides additional city-level records: Las Vegas hit 99°F (breaking its prior March record of 93°F), downtown Los Angeles reached 94°F (beating a 1997 daily record of 87°F), and Palm Springs hit 104°F (tying its March record from 1966).
- Reports Phoenix’s earliest-ever triple-digit reading in March at 101°F on Wednesday, breaking the previous March 26, 1988 record and marking only the second March 100°F day on record there.
- Quotes NWS meteorologist Bryan Lewis calling this "one of the most significant March heat waves in recorded history" and emphasizing how many daily records have already been broken.
- Projects that the aptly named Thermal, California, was forecast to reach 110°F on Friday and that many other cities may see their earliest 100°F day on record, with temperatures staying 20–30°F above normal into the weekend.
- 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.