Record-Shattering March Heat Wave Grips U.S. And Mexico, Fueled by Climate Change

An unprecedented heat wave has swept across the western and central United States and northern Mexico this March, shattering temperature records and raising concerns about the escalating impacts of human-caused climate change. Hundreds of cities have experienced their hottest March weather on record, with some areas reaching temperatures typically not seen until May.

Unprecedented Temperature Records Fall

On Friday, March 21, 2026, the U.S. National heat record for March was broken with a scorching 112°F recorded at Buttercup and Squaw Lake, California. This reading came within one degree Fahrenheit of the nation’s April heat record of 113°F, set in Death Valley, California, in 1946 and again in 2012. The extent and intensity of this heat wave would be virtually impossible without human-caused climate change.

Throughout the week of March 18-22, 2026, numerous state and local records were not only tied but surpassed. According to weather records expert Maximiliano Herrera, at least 14 states set all-time statewide records for March heat. These included Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming and others between the Rockies and the Mississippi River.

State Records Broken (March 18-22, 2026)

• Arizona: Reached 112°F at Martinez Lake and Fort Yuma.
• California: Hit 112°F at Squaw Lake and Buttercup.
• Colorado: Tied a record of 96°F at Burlington and Campo.
• Idaho: Reached 86°F at Boise River.
• Iowa: Reached 97°F at Hitchcock.
• Kansas: Hit 101°F at Phillipsburg.
• Minnesota: Tied a record of 88°F at Luverne and Quentin Airport ASOS.
• Missouri: Reached 97°F at Harrisonville and St. Charles.
• Nebraska: Hit 99°F at Cambridge and Little Blue River.
• New Mexico: Reached 100°F at Carlsbad.
• South Dakota: Hit 97°F at Vermilion.
• Utah: Reached 97°F at St. George.
• Wyoming: Reached 90°F at Torrington, Guernsey and Wheatland.

Impact on Snowpack and Drought Conditions

The record heat and dryness have severely impacted snowpack across the western U.S., which was already below average for mid-March in many areas. The amount of water held in Colorado snowpack has plummeted to 40% of the median for the date, the lowest value in 41 years of recordkeeping, according to the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts a considerable expansion of drought conditions over the western U.S. As a result of the heat and lack of precipitation. The predicted drought for the period ending June 30, 2026, indicates drought persistence and new drought areas developing in currently unaffected regions.

Looking Ahead: Continued Warmth

Forecasts indicate that most of the contiguous United States will remain unusually warm for at least the next week. While a cold front may bring some relief to the Midwest and eastward, the Southwest is expected to continue experiencing record or near-record high temperatures. Several cities, including Las Vegas, Nevada; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Denver, Colorado; Lubbock, Texas; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Memphis, Tennessee, are at risk of tying or breaking all-time March records in the coming days.

As climate change continues to intensify, extreme weather events like this heat wave are expected to become more frequent and severe, posing significant challenges to communities and ecosystems across the U.S. And Mexico. Mexico and the United States share coastlines and the impacts of climate change, making binational cooperation essential for addressing these shared challenges . Both countries have affirmed their commitment to limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and achieving net zero greenhouse emissions by 2050 .