Cities That may see 100 degree heat on these first days of spring

By Sam Stebbins  •  March 20, 2026
low angle photo of cherry blossoms tree
Photo by Arno Smit on Unsplash

New research has led many climate scientists to the startling conclusion that the rate of global warming has doubled in the last 10 years. These findings, if confirmed, would go a long way to explain the extraordinary frequency of extreme weather and natural disasters much of the U.S. has been grappling with so far this year. Since January, large swathes of the country have been impacted by tornadoes, historic snowfall, drought conditions, and wildfires. But perhaps the most notable abnormality has been record-breaking heatwaves. 

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, nine states – largely concentrated in the West and Southwest – just had their warmest winter since at least 1895, the year record keeping began. These states account for over a third of all land area in the continental United States, and among them, average winter temperatures were anywhere from 5.5°F to 9.5°F higher than the average winter temperature in the 20th century. Even though the meteorological winter ended with the month of February, extreme temperatures have continued into March, as weather stations in many of these same places have cumulatively reported record-breaking daily highs thousands of times in the first half of the month. 

Now, new forecast data offers little hope temperatures will return to normal anytime soon, as parts of the country are bracing for dangerous, record-smashing heat. Starting on Friday, March 20th the official start of the spring season, weekend temperatures are projected to surge into the high 90s, and even over 100, in multiple U.S. cities – from Texas to Southern California. 

Using local forecast data compiled by the Southeast Regional Climate Center, Climate Crisis 247 identified the U.S. cities expected to have the highest, record-breaking temperatures this weekend. We reviewed local forecasts for Friday, March 20th through Sunday, March 22nd in hundreds of cities across the country, and identified those where average daily highs are projected to break historic, daily heat records. We only considered the 10 cities with the highest projected record-breaking weekend temperatures. Supplemental data on previous record-highs and 30-year temperature norms – or daily averages collected between 1991 and 2020 – in these places are as reported by NOAA’s Northeast Regional Climate Center.

The 10 cities on this list span four states – Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas. Among these places, the mercury is forecasted to rise as high as 107°F between Friday, March 20th and Sunday, March 22nd. Should temperatures rise as predicted, the heat will break previous daily records, some of which have stood for decades. Additionally, weekend temperatures in most of these places are expected to match or set new record-highs for the entire month of March. 

In each city on this list, weekend temperatures are forecasted to exceed typical daily highs by anywhere from 19.7°F to 30.3°F. 

aerial view of city buildings during daytime
Photo by Arthur Reeder on Unsplash

10. Long Beach, California

  • Highest record-breaking temp. in weekend forecast: 96.0°F on Friday, March 20th
  • Previous record-high on March 20th: 90.0°F in 1997
  • Previous record-high in the month of March: 98.0°F in 1988
  • Local 30-year avg. temperature on March 20th: 69.0°F daily high
  • Local record keeping began: 68 years ago

9. Amarillo, Texas

  • Highest record-breaking temp. in weekend forecast: 96.0°F on Saturday, March 21st
  • Previous record-high on March 21st: 92.0°F in 1907
  • Previous record-high in the month of March: 96.0°F in 1907
  • Local 30-year avg. temperature on March 21st: 66.6°F daily high
  • Local record keeping began: 135 years ago

8. Lubbock, Texas

  • Highest record-breaking temp. in weekend forecast: 97.1°F on Saturday, March 21st
  • Previous record-high on March 21st: 93.0°F in 1997
  • Previous record-high in the month of March: 95.0°F in 1989
  • Local 30-year avg. temperature on March 21st: 69.5°F daily high
  • Local record keeping began: 114 years ago

7. San Angelo, Texas

  • Highest record-breaking temp. in weekend forecast: 97.1°F on Saturday, March 21st
  • Previous record-high on March 21st: 95.0°F in 2017
  • Previous record-high in the month of March: 98.0°F in 1908
  • Local 30-year avg. temperature on March 21st: 74.7°F daily high
  • Local record keeping began: 115 years ago

6. Las Vegas, Nevada

  • Highest record-breaking temp. in weekend forecast: 98.0°F on Friday, March 20th
  • Previous record-high on March 20th: 90.0°F in 2004
  • Previous record-high in the month of March: 93.0°F in 2022
  • Local 30-year avg. temperature on March 20th: 72.4°F daily high
  • Local record keeping began: 90 years ago

5. Del Rio, Texas

  • Highest record-breaking temp. in weekend forecast: 99.1°F on Saturday, March 21st
  • Previous record-high on March 21st: 93.0°F in 1916
  • Previous record-high in the month of March: 103.0°F in 1928
  • Local 30-year avg. temperature on March 21st: 79.4°F daily high
  • Local record keeping began: 121 years ago

4. Childress, Texas

  • Highest record-breaking temp. in weekend forecast: 100.0°F on Saturday, March 21st
  • Previous record-high on March 21st: 98.0°F in 1907
  • Previous record-high in the month of March: 100.0°F in 1989
  • Local 30-year avg. temperature on March 21st: 69.7°F daily high
  • Local record keeping began: 107 years ago

3. Tucson, Arizona

  • Highest record-breaking temp. in weekend forecast: 103.0°F on Friday and Saturday, March 20th-21st
  • Previous record-high on March 20th-21st: 94.0°F in 2017
  • Previous record-high in the month of March: 99.0°F in 1988
  • Local 30-year avg. temperature on March 20th-21st: 77.0°F daily high
  • Local record keeping began: 132 years ago

2. Yuma, Arizona

  • Highest record-breaking temp. in weekend forecast: 107.0°F on Friday, March 20th
  • Previous record-high on March 20th: 99.0°F in 2004
  • Previous record-high in the month of March: 102.0°F in 2004
  • Local 30-year avg. temperature on March 20th: 81.3°F daily high
  • Local record keeping began: 149 years ago

1. Phoenix, Arizona

  • Highest record-breaking temp. in weekend forecast: 107.0°F on Friday, March 20th
  • Previous record-high on March 20th: 96.0°F in 2017
  • Previous record-high in the month of March: 100.0°F in 1988
  • Local 30-year avg. temperature on March 20th: 79.4°F daily high
  • Local record keeping began: 131 years ago


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