Friday, March 20, 2026

Dangerous, unprecedented heat wave hits the West

Yes. The heat in California and Arizona and Nevada has been basically unbelievable this week for ANY March I have ever seen in California. For example, 96 in Los Angeles, 90 in San Francisco and many 100 plus degree temperatures inland in California. Very strange for March!
 
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Dangerous, unprecedented heat wave hits the West

Record temperatures have been shattered from Palm Springs to Las Vegas.

March 19, 2026, 8:26 AM


A dangerous and unprecedented heat wave is hitting the West, with temperatures reaching 25-to-40 degrees above normal across the region.

A dozen cities recorded all-time record March temperatures on Wednesday, including 105 degrees in Palm Springs, California; 102 degrees in Phoenix, Arizona; and 94 degrees in Las Vegas.

Beach goers play beach volleyball at Manhattan Beach in Los Angeles, California, March 17, 2026.
Chris Torres/EPA/Shutterstock

Heat alerts are in place for 40 million Americans in the West through the weekend.

With temperatures expected to reach between 96 and 109 degrees for a widespread area over multiple days -- and during a time of high tourism to the Desert Southwest -- the heat may turn deadly.

The heat will spread east through the week. By Friday, the record highs may reach Texas, Nebraska and Oklahoma, and by Sunday, daily record highs could stretch from Los Angeles to Memphis, Tennessee.

Heat in the west.
ABC News

The heat and dry weather could also increase the risk of wildfires. Red flag warnings are in place for parts of Wyoming, South Dakota and Nebraska, where wind gusts could reach 30 to 45 mph.

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