Record-Breaking March Heat Dome Brings 90–100°F Temperatures and Wildfire Risk to 17 States
An expansive March heat dome is unleashing record-smashing warmth across 17 states from Arizona to Wyoming, sending temperatures into the 90s and possibly up to 100°F in places like Phoenix and pushing at least eight major cities — including Phoenix, Albuquerque, Austin, Las Vegas, Oklahoma City, Tucson and Tulsa — to 90°F or higher. Forecasters warn the central U.S. may run 30–40°F above normal with more than 200 daily records possible, and overlapping fire‑weather alerts from Montana to Texas signal a critical wildfire threat amid 40–50 mph gusts and humidity as low as 4%.
📌 Key Facts
- Record highs are possible Wednesday in 17 states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.
- Forecasts show at least eight major cities could hit or exceed 90°F on Wednesday, including Phoenix, Albuquerque, Austin, Las Vegas, Oklahoma City, Tucson and Tulsa.
- Phoenix could reach 100°F on Wednesday — about 4°F above its daily record — and Tucson could record its hottest March 25 since 1896 if it tops 94°F.
- Denver and Salt Lake City are both forecast to challenge daily records (from 2012 and 2022) with highs near 87°F and 82°F, respectively.
- Meteorologist Nikki Nolan warns the heat will shift east and could break more than 200 additional daily records through Sunday, with central states running 30–40°F above average.
- Overlapping fire-weather alerts from Montana to Texas warn of a 'critical threat' through Thursday, driven by 40–50 mph gusts and humidity dropping as low as 4% in some areas, increasing wildfire risk.
📊 Relevant Data
Low-income neighborhoods can be as much as 12 degrees hotter during a heat wave than nearby wealthier neighborhoods.
Climate Change Is Subjecting More Americans to Unbearable Extreme Heat — Center for American Progress
Almost 1 in 4 people in the United States (about 23%) are socially vulnerable and have low resilience to extreme heat exposure.
Almost a Quarter of U.S. Population Vulnerable to Rising Heat — U.S. Census Bureau
In 2025, there were 77,850 wildfires in the US that burned 5,131,474 acres.
Wildfires and Acres — National Interagency Fire Center
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- CBS pinpoints that record highs are possible Wednesday in 17 specific states, listing Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.
- Forecasts show at least eight major cities could hit or exceed 90°F on Wednesday, including Phoenix, Albuquerque, Austin, Las Vegas, Oklahoma City, Tucson and Tulsa.
- Phoenix could reach 100°F, which would break its daily record by 4°F; Tucson could see its hottest March 25 since 1896 if it tops 94°F.
- Denver and Salt Lake City are both forecast to challenge daily records (from 2012 and 2022 respectively) with highs near 87°F and 82°F.
- Meteorologist Nikki Nolan warns more than 200 additional daily records could be broken through Sunday as the heat shifts east, with central states running 30–40°F above average.
- The article details overlapping fire-weather alerts from Montana to Texas, with forecasters flagging a 'critical threat' of fire weather through Thursday driven by 40–50 mph gusts and humidity dropping as low as 4% in some areas.