The western U.S. is set to face an early spring heatwave next week. And Northern California has a chance of record-high temperatures.
The National Weather Service reported Tuesday morning “well above normal temperatures” are expected starting at the end of the workweek. According to meteorologist Jacob Spender, weather models extending further into the spring do not confidently show a clear end to the heatwave.
Spender said models show a high-pressure ridge descending over the West in the coming days, bringing high heat and low precipitation across the region.
On Tuesday, March 17, high temperatures above 90 degrees are possible for major cities across the state, according to the forecast. Spender said the unseasonably warm weather could be more than 15 degrees higher than expected for mid-March.
A longer term climate prediction model for March 17-23 showed the majority of California has a 90% to 100% chance of temperatures above the average for this time of year. Precipitation amounts for the same timeframe have a 50-60% chance of being below normal, according to the weather service’s model.
Will the California heatwave break records?
The incoming heatwave has the chance to break long-standing records, according to Spender. Various cities across the state may see their earliest 90-degree days ever, weather service data indicated.
In Sacramento, the earliest day of the year the city has experienced 90 degree highs was April 6, 1989. Modesto could see a 66-year record broken, as its earliest ever 90-degree day was April 4, 1960.
Redding may just barely break a 112-year record. The city’s earliest recorded day with 90 degree high temperatures was March 17, 1914.
What’s in the forecast for the California heatwave?
The Sacramento National Weather Service office predicted Tuesday, March 17 would bring the hottest days of the year, so far, to much of Northern California.
The capital city is forecast to hit 90 degrees for the first time in 2026 on March 17, while Modesto could see 92 degrees. Further north, Redding could experience 91-degree days on March 16 and 17.
According to the Hanford weather service branch, Fresno and Merced may be spared from hitting 90 degrees by Monday, March 16. Highs in Fresno are forecasted at “near 89” degrees and Merced could be around 88 degrees. High temperatures are expected to hover in the 80s throughout the workweek and weekend.
San Luis Obispo is expected to see 90-degree weather as early as Friday, March 13, and temperatures could continue to climb into next week, with the forecast expecting 92 degrees Monday. Areas around Los Angeles could approach 100 degrees this Thursday and Friday, according to the National Weather Service’s Los Angeles office.
The Sacramento office of the National Weather Service encouraged people to practice heat safety as temperatures peak. Protecting pets from the heat, drinking plentiful water, staying hydrated during outdoor activities and taking breaks in the shade were among the weather service’s recommendations.
HIGH RISK FOR HEAT ILLNESS this week, especially Thursday and Friday. Adjust plans now to avoid outdoor activities during the heat of the day. #cawx pic.twitter.com/rZ4srsOzNd
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) March 10, 2026
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Camila Pedrosa is a service journalism reporter at The Sacramento Bee. She previously worked as a summer reporting intern for The Bee and reported in Phoenix and Washington, D.C. She graduated from Arizona State University with a master’s degree in mass communication.