SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Residents of San Francisco shed their typical layers Tuesday as an extraordinary winter heat wave continues to break temperature records across the western United States, bringing the city its warmest March temperatures in more than two decades.
The Bay Area is approaching 90-degree highs while Phoenix expects to surpass 100 degrees this week — a milestone typically reached in early May that has never occurred before March 26. Las Vegas may also record its earliest triple-digit temperature ever in the coming days.
This stands in stark contrast to the Midwest and eastern regions, where residents continue clearing snow from powerful storms that caused thousands of flight delays this week.
At San Francisco’s Crissy Field near the Golden Gate Bridge, dog owners and sunbathers gathered to enjoy the unseasonably warm weather.
“It feels like summer already in March. That’s crazy, but I love it,” said dog walker Justyce Roliz. “The dogs, they love running in the water. They love to cool off. They’re loving it.”
Local resident Jessica Ling welcomed the warm temperatures but noted challenges: “but it’s difficult because we don’t have AC in our house. So we have our fans going, our windows open, but we try to be outside as much as we can.”
Temperature records fell throughout the Bay Area on Monday, with Tuesday’s forecasts predicting even higher readings. San Francisco International Airport registered 83 degrees Monday, while Redwood City in Silicon Valley hit 90 degrees, surpassing a 2004 record. San Jose’s 85-degree reading matched a mark established in 1914.
According to National Weather Service meteorologist Roger Gass, while such early heat is uncommon for San Francisco, it’s not unprecedented. The last occurrence was in 2005, when downtown temperatures reached a record 87 degrees on March 11 during a two-day heat wave that set the monthly record. March 2004 saw nearly a week of 80-degree temperatures.
Las Vegas meteorologist Brian Planz forecasts temperatures between 94 and 98 degrees over the next several days, with Saturday potentially reaching 100 degrees — which would mark the city’s earliest triple-digit reading. The current March record stands at 93 degrees, established in 2022.
“If people are visiting Vegas this weekend, they just need to prepare for the heat, make sure they’re hydrating,” Planz advised. “This is going to be unusual for this time of year.”
New Zealand visitor Mark Reeves was following that guidance, staying hydrated and seeking shade and air-conditioned casinos. Standing before the Bellagio fountains, he admitted the heat exceeded his expectations.
However, the weather hasn’t diminished his experience.
“For me, this is the trip of a lifetime,” he explained. “I’ve never been to the USA before and I may never get here again.”
Colorado faces particular challenges as this heat wave caps an unusually mild winter that left mountain snowpack well below normal. This snow typically supplies water to millions of residents. Denver-area water utilities have implemented or are considering lawn watering restrictions.
With temperatures expected to climb into the 80s this week, officials warn against early sprinkler use, as reduced water supplies must last through summer. Colorado utilities typically advise homeowners to wait until May before activating irrigation systems.
Aurora Water spokesperson Shonnie Cline, whose utility serves 400,000 suburban Denver residents, cautioned that late freezes could still damage prematurely activated sprinkler systems.
“The sooner you wake it up, it’s not necessarily better,” she said regarding lawn care.
