Associated Press (March 21, 2026)

Parts of California and Arizona faced extreme heat warnings again Saturday, with unseasonably warm weather reaching as far north as Nebraska just a day into spring.

Forecasts predicted temperatures at or above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.7 C) in the Southwest, marking the end of a week characterized by record-breaking heat. Experts anticipate that April, May, and June will likely see above-normal temperatures across much of the United States.

Win Marsh noted that the heat prompted her and her husband, Stephen, to return home early to Utah after hiking 170 miles (273 kilometers) over two weeks in Arizona, beginning at the Mexico border. Their goal was to complete more than 800 miles (1,287 kilometers) on the Arizona Trail.

“We understand our limits,” said Marsh, 63, on Saturday. “We cannot hike when our bodies cannot cool down. There is no shade, and water sources are drying up. We assured our children that we would avoid risky situations. We are not looking to be part of a search-and-rescue mission.”

The National Weather Service forecasted a high of 100 degrees (37.7 C) in Tucson, Arizona, while the Yuma Desert was expected to reach 105 degrees (40.5 C), following a record-setting temperature of 112 degrees (43.3 C) the previous day, marking the highest March temperature recorded in the United States.

Southern California also experienced temperatures reaching that mark on Friday. Experts indicated that triple-digit temperatures typically occur by May, not March.

In the Midwest, Nebraska was forecasted to see temperatures exceed 90 degrees (32.2 C), followed by a significant drop to the 50s and 60s on Sunday. A red flag warning was issued, indicating an elevated risk of wildfires. Parts of Texas were also expected to experience temperatures of 90 degrees or higher on Saturday.

A report released on Friday by World Weather Attribution, a group of scientists investigating the causes of extreme weather events, stated that the heat experienced in March would have been nearly impossible without human-induced climate change.

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