Arizona hits 43C as US records hottest March temperature ever

2026-03-21 - 15:50

The United States has experienced its hottest March temperature on record, with a desert region in Arizona reaching a sweltering 43 degrees Celsius (110 degrees Fahrenheit), according to media reports citing the National Weather Service. The reading was recorded on Thursday just outside Martinez Lake in the Yuma Desert, surpassing the previous March record of 42°C (108°F) that had stood for more than six decades after being set in Rio Grande, Texas, in 1964. The historic measurement came as an intense heat wave gripped much of the US southwest during the final days of winter, bringing unseasonably high temperatures to multiple states. Several cities and towns across the region also saw their hottest March days on record. Phoenix recorded 40°C (105°F), exceeding its previous March high of 39°C (102°F), while Las Vegas reached 35°C (95°F), surpassing the prior record of 34°C (94°F). A town near North Shore, California, matched the previous national March record of 42°C (108°F) on March 18. The National Weather Service office in Las Vegas warned that such extreme early-season heat, combined with high tourism rates, makes conditions “very dangerous,” noting that temperatures of this magnitude typically do not arrive until late May. The heat wave was driven by a slow-moving high-pressure system that trapped hot air over the region, pushing temperatures 20 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit above normal levels. The phenomenon has become increasingly common as global temperatures continue to rise. Scientists have documented that heat waves are becoming more frequent, more intense, and longer-lasting, with the planet having warmed by approximately 1.1°C since the onset of the industrial era. The record-breaking temperatures add to a growing list of extreme weather events across the United States in recent years, underscoring the accelerating impacts of climate change. The National Weather Service continues to monitor conditions as the region transitions into spring, with forecasters advising residents and visitors to take precautions against heat-related illnesses during periods of unseasonably high temperatures.