Southwest Heat Wave Ties U.S. March Temperature Record at 108°F in California
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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.
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Western U.S. Heat Wave