Scorching heat wave forecast to set records in California, Southwest
Updated March 17, 2026, 5:10 p.m. ET A record-breaking “scorcher” heatwave is underway in Southern California on March 17 and dangerous heat reaching up to triple digits will spread across much of the Southwest, forecasters said. The heat is expected to stretch into the weekend and is likely to challenge or shatter several daily records, and potentially records for the entire month of March, according to the National Weather Service. More than 18 million people were under extreme heat warnings the morning of March 17 across Southern California, southern Nevada and parts of Arizona. Millions more were under heat advisories










