Beach goers play beach volleyball at Manhattan Beach in Los Angeles, California, on 17 March. Photograph: Chris Torres/EPABeach goers play beach volleyball at Manhattan Beach in Los Angeles, California, on 17 March. Photograph: Chris Torres/EPAHistoric March heatwave in US west shatters high-temperature recordsSome highs in California, Nevada and Arizona recorded at 25-35F above normal, with widespread alerts and closures
States across the US south-west recorded blistering temperatures at the tail end of winter, including some of the hottest March temperatures ever recorded in the US, with forecasts indicating hotter days are still to come.
California, Nevada and Arizona were all under heat warnings on Thursday amid record-breaking temperatures.
In California, the National Weather Service (NWS) said the Los Angeles area was facing “extremely rare heat for March”, warning residents of a high risk for heat illness. Palm Springs, about 100 miles (160km) east of Los Angeles, is expected to reach a high of 108F on Thursday. Heat alerts remain in effect through Sunday.
“Temperatures are 25-35 degrees above normal,” the NWS Los Angeles heat advisory said, adding: “Many daily records will be shattered.”
A day after a tiny desert community in southern California reached 108F (42.2C), tying the highest March temperature ever recorded in the US, forecasters warned Thursday that the record-breaking winter heat will continue into the weekend.
North Shore, California, on Wednesday tied a mark first set at Rio Grande City, Texas, in 1954.
There was little relief after the sun went down. In Arizona, Phoenix set a record-high overnight low temperature for 19 March of 69F (20.5C), according to the National Weather Service. Daytime highs that hit triple digits by midday were expected to top out at around 105F (40.5C), and it could be even hotter on Friday.
“For some perspective, the average first 105° day of the year normally occurs on May 22nd,” reads a post from the weather service. The last time Phoenix temperatures climbed into the hundreds during March was almost 40 years ago.
NWS’s Phoenix office said: “Daily records will be broken each day through Sunday and by as much as 10 degrees,” with a peak expected for Friday.
A sign warns hikers of trail closures due to extreme heat in Phoenix. Photograph: Rebecca Noble/APElsewhere on Thursday, Cathedral City, near the California desert destination of Palm Springs, reached 108F(42.2C). The aptly named town of Thermal, north-east of San Diego, was forecast to hit 110F (43.3C) on Friday. Downtown Los Angeles reached 94F (34.4C), beating its previous daily high for 18 March of 87F (30.5C) in 1997.
Several daily heat records were already broken Tuesday across more than a dozen areas in Los Angeles, the NWS posted on X.
Though not as scorching, the heat has also reached northern California, with San Francisco facing a moderate heat risk – two levels below “extreme”.
Half a million lose power as storm lashes US from midwest to east coastRead moreIn Reno, Nevada, the week has brought record-setting warmth, with temperatures expected to peak on Friday. Las Vegas, meanwhile, already set a March record on Wednesday.
“Daily and monthly temperature records continue to be rewritten as this historic March heatwave persists into next week,” NWS Las Vegas said on Thursday.
Temperatures are expected to cool next week, with Los Angeles dipping around 80F.
Some western national parks that were preparing for spring break crowds urged people to check the forecast before heading out. High temperatures at White Sands national park in New Mexico could reach the mid-90sF (about 35C). Grand Canyon national park in Arizona was under an extreme heat warning, with temperatures possibly hitting 104F in some places.
Park officials warned hikers to avoid strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day, which they identify as 10am to 4pm.
Hiking trails at Lake Mead national recreation area were closed amid the heatwave, according to a notice from the National Park Service.
The Associated Press contributed reporting
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