Record-breaking heat to hit these cities this weekend

By Sam Stebbins  •  March 13, 2026
Vivid image of the sun against an orange sky, capturing twilight's essence.
Photo by Nothing Ahead on Pexels

The start of the spring season is a week away. But in much of the country, the final days of winter will feel more like the dog days of summer. In dozens of cities across the South, Southwest, and Western United States, record breaking heat is forecasted throughout the weekend. As early as Friday, March 13th, temperatures are expected to rise to the mid-90s in multiple major metropolitan areas. 

Historically, temperatures during the month of March have averaged 41.5°F in the continental United States, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Even in the hottest places in the country, including Death Valley, Key West, and Miami, average March temperatures have been below 75°F in recent decades. But as Earth’s atmosphere continues to warm, historical norms are becoming increasingly unreliable as a prediction tool. And in the current era of climate change, extreme heat is no longer solely a summertime phenomenon. 

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 13th through Sunday, March 15th 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 where weekend temperatures are expected to reach at least 85°F and set at least one new daily record high. Supplemental data on previous daily 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 three states – Arizona, California, and Texas. Among these places, the mercury is forecasted to rise as high as 96°F between Friday, March 13th and Sunday, March 15th. Should temperatures rise as predicted, the heat will break previous daily records, some of which have stood for decades. In each of these places, weekend temperatures are forecasted to exceed typical daily highs by anywhere from 15.7°F to 26.6°F. 

 marine heat wave builds offshore, an expansive area of well-above-average sea temperatures that is likely to expand as summerlike warmth arrives and intensifies into next week.

10. Stockton, California

  • Record high(s) in weekend forecast: 85.0°F on Saturday, March 14
  • Previous daily record high: 84°F on March 14, 2015
  • Local temperature norms: 68.3°F daily high, 56.2°F daily avg. on March 14
  • Local record keeping began: 78 years ago

9. El Paso, Texas

  • Record high(s) in weekend forecast: 87.0°F on Saturday, March 14; 87.0°F on Sunday, March 15 
  • Previous daily record high: 85°F on March 14, 2017; 86°F on March 15, 2017
  • Local temperature norms: 71.3°F daily high, 58.1°F daily avg. on March 14; 71.6°F daily high, 58.4°F daily avg. on March 15
  • Local record keeping began: 140 years ago

8. Santa Maria, California

  • Record high(s) in weekend forecast: 87.0°F on Sunday, March 15
  • Previous daily record high: 86°F on March 15, 2015
  • Local temperature norms: 66.2°F daily high, 55.3°F daily avg. on March 15
  • Local record keeping began: 116 years ago

7. Lubbock, Texas

  • Record high(s) in weekend forecast: 88.1°F on Saturday, March 14
  • Previous daily record high: 86°F on March 14, 1972
  • Local temperature norms: 67.2°F daily high, 52.5°F daily avg. on March 14
  • Local record keeping began: 114 years ago
a city street with cars and buildings
Photo by Justin Wallace on Unsplash

6. Austin-Bergstrom Airport, Texas

  • Record high(s) in weekend forecast: 90.1°F on Sunday, March 15
  • Previous daily record high: 87°F on March 15, 1977
  • Local temperature norms: 72.8°F daily high, 60.8°F daily avg. on March 15
  • Local record keeping began: 82 years ago

5. Midland-Odessa, Texas

  • Record high(s) in weekend forecast: 91.0°F on Saturday, March 14; 89.0°F on Sunday, March 15 
  • Previous daily record high: 89°F on March 14, 1989; 88°F on March 15, 1971
  • Local temperature norms: 71.2°F daily high, 57.5°F daily avg. on March 14; 71.5°F daily high, 57.8°F daily avg. on March 15
  • Local record keeping began: 96 years ago

4. Phoenix, Arizona

  • Record high(s) in weekend forecast: 94.9°F on Friday, March 13; 94.0°F on Sunday, March 15 
  • Previous daily record high: 92°F on March 13, 2017; 92°F on March 15, 2013
  • Local temperature norms: 77.3°F daily high, 65.6°F daily avg. on March 13; 77.9°F daily high, 66.1°F daily avg. on March 15
  • Local record keeping began: 131 years ago

3. Long Beach, California

  • Record high(s) in weekend forecast: 94.9°F on Friday, March 13
  • Previous daily record high: 91°F on March 13, 2015
  • Local temperature norms: 68.3°F daily high, 59.7°F daily avg. on March 13
  • Local record keeping began: 68 years ago

2. Yuma, Arizona

  • Record high(s) in weekend forecast: 96.0°F on Friday, March 13
  • Previous daily record high: 95°F on March 13, 2017
  • Local temperature norms: 79.6°F daily high, 67.1°F daily avg. on March 13
  • Local record keeping began: 148 years ago

1. Los Angeles, California

  • Record high(s) in weekend forecast: 96.0°F on Friday, March 13
  • Previous daily record high: 90°F on March 13, 2015
  • Local temperature norms: 69.6°F daily high, 60.9°F daily avg. on March 13
  • Local record keeping began: 149 years ago


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