← March 20, 2026 briefingClimate
Historic March heatwave shatters records across US south-west
California, Nevada, and Arizona have recorded some of the hottest March temperatures in US history, with readings running 25 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit above normal and forecasters warning the worst is still ahead. The extreme heat arrived before the official start of summer and triggered widespread alerts and facility closures across the region. Separately, Tropical Cyclone Narelle is making landfall in far north Queensland, Australia as a high-end category four storm, threatening remote communities along the coast.
