Reno, Nevada – Drivers, hikers, and early-season travelers across the পশ্চিম U.S. are dealing with summerlike heat right now, as temperatures surge into the upper 80s and 90s — levels rarely seen this early in the year.
According to the National Weather Service, multiple states including Nevada, California, Arizona, and Colorado set daily and all-time March temperature records Friday, with Reno reaching 88°F and South Lake Tahoe hitting 72°F — both new daily highs. Reno has now logged four consecutive days above 80°F, a streak never recorded in March.
Interior Northern California also saw widespread records, including 93°F in Redding and 91°F in Modesto. In Arizona, temperatures climbed even higher, with 99°F recorded near Clarkdale, 91°F at Prescott Airport, and 90°F in both Payson and Winslow. Several of those marks surpassed records that had stood for more than two decades.
Colorado added to the unusual pattern, where Fort Collins hit 89°F — tying its warmest April temperature ever recorded — while Denver reached 85°F. Climate sites across the Front Range reported multiple records falling within a 24-hour span.
The heat is accelerating snowmelt in higher elevations and increasing early-season fire risk, especially across dry areas of Arizona and western Kansas, where no measurable rain is expected through at least next week. Officials urge residents to stay hydrated, avoid peak afternoon activity, and check vehicles and cooling systems.
This pattern holds through the weekend, with additional records possible before a gradual cooldown begins early next week.
