Record March Heatwave
Phoenix extended its streak of daily all‑time March heat records into an eighth consecutive day, prompting advisories for heat‑sensitive populations and official warnings to limit outdoor activity. City officials say cooling resources are under pressure and urged residents to check on vulnerable neighbors as high temperatures persist. (fox10phoenix.com)
Phoenix Sky Harbor recorded 102°F on March 18, marking the earliest 100‑degree day in the airport’s historical record and surpassing the previous earliest March 26, 1988 reading. (azcentral.com) Forecasters warned highs would climb into the mid‑100s, with the National Weather Service projecting 105–106°F during the peak of the event and meteorologists saying the pattern would “shatter records.” (kjzz.org) Local reporting tracked a run of consecutive daily all‑time March heat highs, noting a six‑day streak early in the week that extended into a seventh straight day by March 24 as readings kept eclipsing previous March records. (ktar.com) City heat‑response officials opened libraries, senior centers and community centers for cooling as many seasonal respite sites were not yet operating, and Phoenix’s 2026 Heat Response Plan includes an expanded network of cooling centers and a permanent 24/7 respite site at 20 W. Jackson Street. (kjzz.org) Summer event schedules shifted: at least 10 Cactus League spring‑training games were pushed to evening starts to avoid peak heat, and the Arizona Diamondbacks moved a March 20 game from a 1:10 p.m. start to 6:10 p.m. citing player and staff safety. (kjzz.org) Statewide extremes peaked well beyond Phoenix — one Arizona station hit 110°F, and attribution analyses and national summaries described the March event as breaking records across the West and highly unlikely without human‑driven warming. (usatoday.com)
