Arizona: An intense early-season heatwave has pushed temperatures in the US Southwest to unprecedented levels, with a desert community in Arizona recording the highest March temperature ever in the country.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), temperatures reached a scorching 43°C (110°F), in an area near Martinez Lake in the Yuma Desert. The reading surpasses the previous March record of 42°C (108°F), which had stood since 1964 in Rio Grande.
The extreme heat forms part of a widespread and unusually intense heatwave affecting large parts of the US Southwest during what is typically the final stretch of winter. Several regions across California, Arizona, and Nevada also reported record or near-record temperatures. A town near North Shore matched the long-standing March high of 42°C earlier in the week.
With even more heat in the forecast today and this weekend for many, be sure you are taking care of yourself and your neighbors.
Check your local forecast at https://t.co/VyWINDk3xP. pic.twitter.com/9O1FooDin0
— National Weather Service (@NWS) March 20, 2026
In Phoenix, temperatures climbed to 40°C (105°F), setting a new record for March and exceeding the previous high recorded just a day earlier. Meanwhile, Las Vegas reached 35°C (95°F), breaking its earlier record of 34°C (94°F).
Weather officials have warned that the combination of extreme heat and increased tourist activity could pose significant health risks. Typically, such high temperatures are not seen until late May, making this week’s spike highly unusual.
Meteorologists attribute the heatwave to a strong and slow-moving high-pressure system, often referred to as a ‘heat dome,’ which traps hot air and drives temperatures 20–30°F above seasonal averages.
Scientists say events like this are becoming more frequent and severe due to human-driven climate change. Global temperatures have already risen by approximately 1.1°C since the industrial era, and are expected to continue climbing unless significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are achieved.
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