Unseasonable Heat Wave Sweeps Across U.S., Raising Concerns and Triggering Early Wildfire Risks

Parts of California and Arizona are under extreme heat warnings as summerlike temperatures extend as far north as Nebraska, marking an early and concerning start to the warm season. Temperatures at or above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.7 C) are forecast across the Southwest, capping a week of record-breaking heat.

Record Temperatures and Early Season Heat

The Yuma Desert in southwestern Arizona reached 112°F (43.3°C) on Friday, setting a new record for the highest March temperature in the United States . Two locations in Southern California also hit the same temperature on Friday. Experts note that triple-digit temperatures typically don’t arrive until May .

The National Weather Service predicted 100°F (37.7 C) in Tucson, Arizona .

Impact on Outdoor Activities and Wildfire Risk

The extreme heat is impacting outdoor activities. Win Marsh and her husband, Stephen, were forced to cut short their 170-mile hike along the Arizona Trail, starting at the Mexico border. Their goal was to complete over 800 miles, but they decided to return to Utah early due to the dangerous conditions. “We know our limits,” Marsh, 63, said. “We can’t hike when our bodies can’t cool down. There’s no shade out there, and water sources are drying up. … We promised our kids we wouldn’t do sketchy stuff. We’re not out there for a search-and-rescue event.”

In Nebraska, temperatures exceeded 90°F (32.2 C), prompting a red flag warning due to increased wildfire risk. Parts of Texas also experienced temperatures at or above 90°F .

Nebraska Wildfires Largely Contained

Evacuation orders have been lifted in areas affected by the Cottonwood and Morrill fires in Nebraska, which have burned more than 1,200 square miles (3,118 square kilometers) but are largely contained, according to the state Emergency Management Agency . The affected areas are primarily range and grassland.

Climate Change Connection

According to a report by World Weather Attribution, an international group of scientists, March’s heat would have been “virtually impossible” without human-caused climate change .

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