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 10:17 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.Record heat on the way! Here is how you can protect yourselfHow can Houston stop Idaho’s fast-paced offense?Houston Health Department temporarily shuts down ‘Mama Tina’s Gumbo’ at RodeoHoustonWhy Reed Blankenship chose Texans in free agencyOfficials are responding to a train derailment in Rosenberg5 vehicles are currently involved in a major crash on Tomball ParkwayBreaking news: A man was beaten during an attempted robberyUSA shocked in World Baseball ClassicJudge extends Texas school voucher application deadlineHouston Texans add Wyatt TellerUniversity of Houston in the NCAA TournamentFreeze warning issued for areas north of HoustonThe Coogs are back in the Big Dance! Houston enters March Madness as a No. 2 seedTuesday's temperatures will be last real taste of winter in HoustonDeadline to apply for Texas school vouchers is TuesdayHouston Livestock Show and Rodeo releases statement after fights cause early carnival closureCold Front! Grab Your CoatsTracking Thunderstorms and Strong Winds!Happy Saturday!! 💛 The rodeo fun continues this weekend!TX Sen. Paul Bettencourt calls for Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo to resign after rodeo meltdownTX Sen. Paul Bettencourt calls for Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo to resign after rodeo meltdownSave money on tickets to the Alley Theatre in downtown Houston this month!
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