Arizona desert town breaks record for hottest March temperature in US history

Martinez Lake, Arizona, recorded 110°F on Thursday, breaking the US record for the hottest March temperature ever. This occurred during a late-winter heatwave affecting the southwestern US. The previous record was 108°F, set in Texas in 1954 and tied in California earlier in the week. Numerous locations in California also reached 108°F, and Thermal, California, was forecast to potentially tie the new record. The heatwave caused record highs in cities including Phoenix and Las Vegas, with temperatures 20-30 degrees Fahrenheit above normal for March. Phoenix experienced its earliest triple-digit temperature day, and hiking trails were closed due to heat illness risks.

A record-breaking heatwave impacted the western United States in late winter. Several locations in California and Arizona experienced unprecedented temperatures. A desert community near Martinez Lake, Arizona, reached 43.3 degrees Celsius (110 Fahrenheit) on Thursday, setting a new national record for the highest March temperature. This surpassed the previous record of 42.2 degrees Celsius set in Texas in 1954 and tied earlier in the week in California. Extreme heat advisories were issued for parts of southern California and Arizona. Las Vegas also broke its previous record, reaching 35 degrees Celsius. The National Weather Service attributed the high temperatures to a significant warming trend.

A historic heatwave in late March shattered high-temperature records across the US Southwest. California, Nevada, and Arizona experienced temperatures 25-35°F above normal, prompting heat warnings and closures. Some of the hottest March temperatures ever recorded in the US were observed, and forecasts indicate continued high temperatures. The unseasonably warm weather affected multiple states, causing widespread alerts due to the unusual heat at the tail end of winter. The heatwave's impact is significant due to its intensity and timing.