Southwest Swelters as California Desert Town Matches All-Time March Heat Record

A small California desert community reached 108 degrees Wednesday, matching the highest March temperature ever recorded in the United States. Meteorologists warn the unprecedented winter heat wave will persist across the Southwest through the weekend.

Meteorologists issued warnings Thursday that an unprecedented winter heat wave gripping the Southwest will persist through the weekend, following Wednesday’s remarkable temperature milestone in a small California desert town.

The community of North Shore, California, registered 108 degrees (42.2 Celsius) on Wednesday, matching the nation’s highest March temperature first recorded in Rio Grande City, Texas, back in 1954. Meanwhile, the desert town of Thermal, located northeast of San Diego, could see temperatures soar to 110 degrees (43.3 C) on Friday.

Even nighttime brought little respite from the extreme conditions. Phoenix established a new overnight low temperature record for March 19th, with thermometers never dropping below 69 degrees (20.5 C), the National Weather Service reported. Thursday’s daytime temperatures in Phoenix are expected to peak around 105 degrees (40.5 C), with Friday potentially bringing even more intense heat. “For some perspective, the average first 105 degree day of the year normally occurs on May 22nd,” the weather service noted. The last occurrence of triple-digit March temperatures in Phoenix happened nearly four decades ago.

Multiple cities across the region shattered temperature records on Wednesday, experiencing their most intense March heat in 40 years, weather officials confirmed.

Las Vegas soared to 99 degrees (37.2 C), obliterating its previous March benchmark of 93 degrees (33.8 C) established in 2022.

In downtown Los Angeles, thermometers climbed to 94 degrees (34.4 C), surpassing the former daily record of 87 degrees (30.5 C) from 1997.

The resort city of Palm Springs, California, registered 104 degrees (40 C), equaling its warmest March temperature previously recorded in 1966.

The Southwest region will experience temperatures 20 to 30 degrees higher than typical March averages through the remainder of the week before conditions begin moderating Sunday. Weather forecasters predict numerous cities throughout the area may witness their earliest 100-degree (37.8-plus C) days in recorded history.