Historic Heat Wave Shatters Records Across Western US – Climate Change Link Confirmed
A record-shattering heat wave gripped the western United States this weekend, with temperatures soaring to levels more typical of summer and prompting widespread concern over public health and wildfire risk. Fort Collins, Colorado, reached 91 degrees Fahrenheit on Saturday, surpassing its all-time March high since record-keeping began in 1893.
The heat, which began building earlier in the week, has broken more than 150 daily temperature records and approximately 50 monthly all-time records across the region, according to the National Weather Service. Death Valley, California, hit 105 degrees Fahrenheit on Thursday, establishing a new monthly record. Las Vegas, Nevada, reached 96 degrees on Saturday, and is forecast to reach 93 degrees on Sunday.
Clark County Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick issued a statement Wednesday emphasizing the unusual timing of the heat. “While Southern Nevada is no stranger to extreme heat, we are facing an unprecedented heat wave months ahead of the summer season,” she said. “Our bodies are not yet acclimated to these temperatures, and that puts people at greater risk for heat related illnesses.” More than 40 cooling stations were opened throughout Las Vegas to provide relief from the heat.
The National Weather Service urged residents to take precautions, advising people to wear sunscreen, eat light meals, and avoid caffeine and alcohol when spending time outdoors. In Arizona, Phoenix reached 105 degrees Fahrenheit on both Friday and Saturday, setting new records for the entire month of March. Several popular hiking trails were closed during daytime hours, a measure typically implemented much later in the year.
The Phoenix Trail Heat Safety Program, established in 2021, restricts trail access during extreme heat warnings. Trails at Camelback Mountain Preserve, Phoenix Mountains Preserve, and South Mountain Park and Preserve were closed from 8 a.m. To 5 p.m. Local time this weekend. The Maricopa County Department of Public Health advised residents to stay indoors with air conditioning and to check on vulnerable individuals.
The heat wave is impacting events across the region. At least 10 Major League Baseball spring training games have been rescheduled to begin after 6 p.m. Local time to avoid the peak temperatures, according to the Cactus League. In Glendale, Arizona, the fire department transported approximately 30 people to hospitals on Saturday for heat-related illnesses during the Luke Days Air Indicate, and treated numerous others on-site.
The National Weather Service forecasts temperatures in the 90s and 100s across the Southwest on Sunday, with 80s expected in parts of Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. The Great Plains will observe highs ranging from the 70s to the 90s. The extreme conditions are attributed to a persistent heat dome – a high-pressure ridge trapping hot air over the western U.S.
Scientists with the World Weather Attribution group reported Friday that the March heat wave “would have been virtually impossible without human-induced climate change.” The heat, low humidity, and breezy winds in Colorado are also raising the risk of wildfires across the state.