As winter is not officially over yet, an unusual heatwave for the season is hitting parts of the southwest United States, with temperatures well above normal. In several areas of southern California, Arizona, and Nevada, the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued alerts for extreme heat. In Las Vegas, southern Nevada, the mercury had already reached 35°C on Thursday, with temperatures expected to rise further over the weekend, with peaks of 41.6°C possibly being recorded, well above the usual records for March.
Meteorologist Rose Schoenfeld from the NWS stated, “We are recording much higher temperatures than normal.” She also noted that this is the first significant heatwave of the year following periods of cooler temperatures, highlighting that local populations are not yet acclimatized to these conditions.
Facing this “extremely rare for March” event, the NWS recommends prioritizing air-conditioned spaces and staying hydrated regularly. The phenomenon is also spreading to northern Mexico, which is also affected by this unusual rise in temperatures.
According to scientists, this type of event is part of a broader trend linked to climate change. The year 2025 was marked by a succession of extreme events (heatwaves, storms, cyclones, and fires) whose frequency and intensity are increasing globally.
“We will likely continue to break daily records, as well as historical records in some regions,” warned Rose Schoenfeld, as these early temperatures could also disrupt ecosystems, on the eve of the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere on March 20.
