A tiny desert community in Southern California has tied the highest March temperature ever recorded in the U.S. The 108 degree day in North Shore, California, came amid a record-breaking winter heat wave in the Southwest that will stretch into the weekend and could produce even higher temperatures.
March 18, 2026 at 11:17 PMA baseball fan tries to shield from the sun during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and the Athletics, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Phoenix.
FILE - A man sits under the shade of a tree at Steele Indian School Park in Phoenix, March 25, 2025. Baseball fans watch the Los Angeles Dodgers play the San Francisco Giants during the fifth inning of a spring training baseball game with the heat forcing the game to end early, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in Phoenix. A baseball fan tries to shield from the sun during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and the Athletics, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Phoenix. – A tiny desert community in Southern California reached 108 degrees on Wednesday, tying the highest March temperature ever recorded in the U.S.in the Southwest that will stretch into the weekend and could produce even higher temperatures.The record — first reached by Rio Grande City, Texas in 1954 and now shared by North Shore, California — could be broken in a number of cities and towns by week's end. The aptly named Thermal, California, was forecast to hit 110 degrees on Friday. Triple-digit temperatures also came earlier than ever before in Phoenix when the Arizona capital hit 101 degrees Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. The previous record was set almost 40 years ago, on March 26, 1988, the only other time Phoenix temperatures have climbed into the hundreds during the month of March, according to the NWS. Bryan Lewis, a meteorologist with the NWS, said this has been one of the most significant March heatwaves in recorded history.Several cities on Wednesday experienced their hottest March day in almost 40 years, according to the NWS.Downtown Los Angeles reached 94 degrees, beating its previous daily high of 87 degrees in 1997. And the desert destination of Palm Springs, California, was 104 degrees, tying its hottest March day on record from 1966. It will continue to be 20 to 30 degrees above normal March temperatures for the rest of the week in the Southwest before dropping slightly over the weekend. Many other cities in the region are expected to see their earliest 100-plus degree day on record, according to the NWS. Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.▶Mother of 18-year-old killed at Westside Burger King serves customers, pays for meals in son’s honorGator boys headed to Tampa to begin journey for back-to-back national titlesJacksonville approves next step in bringing UF campus to cityPrivate lender says she lost nearly $70K after working with BG Ventures Investment Real EstatePulse nightclub demolished as Orlando moves toward permanent memorial for 49 victims of massacreGoFundMe launched after car crash sends Jacksonville family of 4 to multiple hospitalsBehind-the-scenes look at bomb squad training at Camp BlandingJacksonville NAACP urges delay in JEA appointment amid investigationsCity Council holds first JEA Special Committee meeting over potential unpaid capacity feesAfter three years, still no arrests made in Jacksonville Beach St. Patrick’s Day shootingsSenate Housing Bill could boost Jacksonville’s fight against affordability crisisDonate, Declutter and Win During Goodwill’s ‘Clean Out Your Closet Week’Time to get some green in my garden. Expert advice from Five PointsCrashes increase on St. Patrick's Day so have a plan & stay alert1:38Northwesterly winds bring unseasonable cold to our areaJacksonville TikTok influencer advocates for expansion of trade programs in Duval CountyAtlantic Beach urges riders to follow e-bike rules amid spring breakGas station awning toppled during thunderstorms in Nassau CountyWeather Authority Alert Day: Front brings risk of severe storms, gusty winds, tornadoes and hailPonte Vedra double murder happened very close to another high profile crime sceneTSA staffing shortages, sprawling line of thunderstorms affecting Spring Break flightsLights Out: Residents, businesses asked to turn off non-essential lights for bird migrationJU women's basketball team will face LSU on Friday in NCAA tourney openerLudvig Åberg talks about entering the final round of The Players Championship with a 3-shot leadLudvig Åberg talks about entering the final round of The Players Championship with a 3-shot lead
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