Record-Breaking Heat Wave Sweeps Southwest, California Town Ties March Temperature Record

A small desert community in Southern California, North Shore, reached 108 degrees Fahrenheit on Wednesday, tying the highest March temperature ever recorded in the United States. The previous record was set by Rio Grande City, Texas, in 1954. This extreme heat is occurring amid a record-breaking winter heat wave impacting the Southwest, with temperatures forecast to remain 20-30 degrees above normal for the rest of the week before dropping slightly over the weekend.

Unprecedented Heat Across the Region

The heat wave is affecting multiple states, with several cities experiencing record-breaking temperatures. Phoenix, Arizona, hit 101 degrees on Wednesday, surpassing its previous record of 95 degrees set on March 26, 1988 [CBS News]. Las Vegas, Nevada, reached 99 degrees, breaking its previous March record of 93 degrees in 2022 [CBS News]. Downtown Los Angeles also experienced a high of 94 degrees, exceeding its previous daily high of 87 degrees in 1997 [CBS News]. Palm Springs, California, tied its hottest March day on record with a temperature of 104 degrees, matching the high set in 1966 [CBS News].

Thermal, California Forecast to Reach 110 Degrees

The town of Thermal, California, is predicted to reach a scorching 110 degrees on Friday [CBS News]. Meteorologists warn that the ongoing heat wave could produce hundreds of additional record temperatures before subsiding [CBS News].

Meteorologist Commentary

Bryan Lewis, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, stated, “We’ve broken so many records yesterday and even today we’ve broken quite a few so far.” [CBS News] He described this as one of the most significant March heat waves in recorded history [CBS News].

Heat Alerts in Effect

Heat alerts are currently in effect for more than 41 million people across the Southwest, and are expected to remain in place through Sunday [CBS News].