While the Midwest battles blizzards, a potentially historic heat wave is beginning to bake the Southwest and Southern California.
A dominant ridge of high pressure parked over the West Coast is expected to persist through next week, pushing temperatures 20–30°F above seasonal averages.
This prolonged stretch of dry, sunny weather puts more than 100 record highs at risk, with major metros like Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Phoenix bracing for several consecutive days of unprecedented warmth for this time of year.
The intensity of this heat could set new benchmarks as early as Tuesday, with Phoenix eyeing its earliest 100°F day on record. If the mercury hits triple digits, it would shatter the previous record set on March 26, 1988, by nearly two weeks.
Las Vegas is also on track to potentially eclipse its warmest March temperature ever recorded as highs climb into the mid-to-upper 90s.
With long-range outlooks keeping the West well above average through early April, this early-season heat dome marks a dramatic start to the spring season.