The Unforeseen Heat Wave: Breaking Records as Winter Ends
As the calendar marks the final day of winter, the temperatures tell a different story. Across Arizona and the western United States, an unprecedented heat wave is shattering records and raising eyebrows. Meteorologist Lee Born discussed this extraordinary weather event with Bree Burkitt on KNAU’s Morning Edition.
BREE BURKITT: I’m Bree Burkitt in studio with meteorologist Lee Born on what is apparently the last day of winter.
LEE BORN: Yeah, you wouldn’t know it by the weather outside.
The Spring Equinox arrives tomorrow at 7:46 a.m. local time, yet the climate seems to have skipped ahead, ushering in summer-like heat. Born described this weather pattern as “unprecedented,” with temperatures reaching heights unseen in over 130 years of record-keeping.
Forecasts predict that today’s temperatures in Arizona will surpass previous March records by at least 10 degrees, an anomaly considering the typical one or two-degree margin by which records are broken. This heat wave, which began on St. Patrick’s Day, is expected to persist, stretching into the early days of spring.
BURKITT: Regardless, it certainly doesn’t feel like winter.
BORN: Absolutely not. You know, an absolutely extraordinary heat wave, that, you know, has never been felt in weather record-keeping history.
In Flagstaff, temperatures reached 73 degrees on Tuesday, tying with the hottest March day ever recorded since 1899. Wednesday saw a new high of 76 degrees, and today’s forecast suggests a further increase to 83 or 84 degrees, exceeding even April’s historical highs.
Other areas are experiencing similar extremes. Prescott is looking at temperatures in the low 90s, while the Verde Valley and Sedona may see highs approaching triple digits. Even more striking, Phoenix could reach 106 or 107 degrees in the coming days, far surpassing previous March records.
BURKITT: And, like you mentioned, we’ve met or passed several records throughout the region?
BORN: Yes, the heat wave started on Tuesday, St. Patrick’s Day here in Flagstaff. We hit 73 degrees. Not only was it a high temperature record for the day, it was the warmest. It tied the hottest March day in weather record-keeping history here in Flagstaff, dating back to 1899.
Elsewhere, Palm Springs might hit 109 degrees, potentially marking the hottest March day ever recorded in the United States. This unusual weather pattern has sparked conversations about climate change, as Born notes that the extent and duration of this heat wave are highly irregular.
BURKITT: Is this a precursor to what we can expect to see as we head into summer?
BORN: I certainly hope not. We can handle a March heat wave you know? We’re used to heat here in Arizona. This is uncorrelated to what’s happening coming up this summer.
Despite the intensity of the current conditions, Born reassures that this phenomenon doesn’t necessarily foreshadow the summer weather. However, the persistence of these high temperatures, expected to last a week or more, remains a point of concern.
BURKITT: That was KNAU meteorologist Born. Thank you, Lee.
This conversation originally aired on KNAU on Thursday, March 19, 2026. The text is edited for length and clarity.
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