Phoenix tops out at 102 degrees for city’s hottest March day on record

PHOENIX — A historic March heat wave pushed Phoenix into record-setting territory on Wednesday.

The mercury at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, which the National Weather Service (NWS) uses for the city’s official readings, set a March 18 heat record peaking at 102 degrees. The previous record high for the date — 95 degrees — was set in 2017.

It was the earliest triple‑digit day ever recorded in the city, over a week ahead of the previous mark of March 26 from 1988, making Wednesday the hottest March day ever recorded in Phoenix.

Heat record shattered as authorities warn public about dangers

As warm as Wednesday is, it’s only the beginning. The NWS says this could mark the start of a sustained stretch of record heat at a time when the normal high is about 80 degrees.

Temperatures are expected to climb even higher later this week, with the hottest days potentially challenging — or even surpassing — Phoenix’s all‑time April record of 105 degrees.

After peaking on Friday and Saturday, temperatures should begin to ease slightly, but highs are still forecast to remain at least in the upper 90s through next Tuesday, according to the NWS.

To alert the public about the health risks as temperatures soar to 20-plus degrees above normal, the NWS issued an extreme heat warning that covers much of central and southern Arizona for Thursday morning through Sunday evening.

It’s the first extreme heat warning (or excessive heat warning, the term used until last year) ever issued in Arizona during the winter, which runs through March 20. In fact, an April 26-30, 2020, advisory was the only extreme heat warning issued earlier than May until now.

Extreme heat warnings trigger the daytime closures of some or all hiking trails at Camelback Mountain, Piestewa Peak and South Mountain in Phoenix.

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