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Southern California breaks more heat records — and it’s not over yet

March 18, 2026

LOS ANGELES — Dangerously hot conditions continued Wednesday across much of Southern California, continuing a heat wave that has already seen numerous daily temperature records fall.

According to the National Weather Service, temperatures in coastal areas likely peaked on Tuesday, but the heat will intensify in valley and interior areas through Friday, before noticeably falling over the weekend but remaining above normal.

Some colorful shade is a relief from triple-digit temperatures at Reseda Boulevard and Cohasset Street in Reseda on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Unusually hot temperatures are expected to continue through the weekend. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Temperatures in coastal areas were mostly in the 80s Wednesday, and into the 90s in valleys and interior areas. Temperatures reached the upper 90s and low 100s in the Inland Empire and the 110s in the lower deserts.

“Like a broken record, the dangerously hot conditions will continue to impact the region through at least Friday,” said a statement by the NWS. “… Very strong, record breaking high pressure continues to inch to the east this week. While (Wednesday) will see an increase in onshore trends, which will allow the coastal temperatures to decrease a few degrees (but remaining near the 80s and 90s), valleys and mountains will continue to be around 90-104 degrees through Friday. Additionally, warm overnight lows will provide little relief from the heat, especially in the foothill and mountain locations.”

More temperature records were likely to be set on Wednesday, forecasters said. A series of daily temperature records were set on Tuesday:

— Downtown Los Angeles reached 98 degrees, topping the 1914 record of 94

— Los Angeles International Airport hit 92 degrees, breaking the 1978 record of 91

— Long Beach reached 99 degrees, breaking the 1978 record of 95

— Burbank measured 99 degrees, breaking the 1978 record of 92

— Woodland Hills reached 101 degrees, breaking the 2007 record of 93

— Palmdale reached 90 degrees, topping the 2007 record of 88

— Lancaster reached 90 degrees, also topping the 2007 record of 88

The temperatures reached in Long Beach and Burbank were the highest ever recorded in March in those areas.

On Tuesday in Palm Springs, the high reached 103 degrees — beating the previous record of 100 from 2007, the weather service said. The mercury reached the same level in Thermal, narrowly passing the previous record, set in 2007, of 102.

Women walk under a blooming pink trumpet tree at Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 during the heat wave. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The weather service said Indio set a new record at 104, undoing the previous one for March 17, 2007, when the heat peaked at 101.

At Riverside Municipal Airport, the temperature topped out at 101, well above the previous record of 92 set in 2004.

The mountaintop community of Idyllwild also established a new record, reaching 85. The last record set for the date was in 2017, when the high hit 76, according to the National Weather Service.

An extreme heat warning took effect at 10 a.m. Tuesday across most of the Southland and will remain in place until 8 p.m. Friday, with forecasters warning of temperatures reaching as high as 104 in some areas.

A less severe heat advisory will be in place until 8 p.m. Friday in coastal areas, where temperatures in the 80s and 90s are expected.

An extreme heat warning will be in effect for the Coachella Valley and San Gorgonio Pass until 8 p.m. Saturday. A heat advisory is in effect for the Riverside metropolitan area until 8 p.m. Friday.

Forecasters noted that the extended high temperatures will being “a high risk of heat illness for just about everyone.”

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Monday urged residents to prepare for the high heat.

“As a former nurse and a physician assistant, I know first-hand that this heat is something to treat extremely seriously, and I’m making sure the city is preparing accordingly,” Bass said in a statement. “Hundreds of city facilities, including libraries and recreation centers, are available for Angelenos who need to stay cool. Do not hesitate — get indoors and into air conditioning and protect yourself.”

According to the mayor’s office, all city libraries and recreation centers will be available as cooling centers this week. A full list of those locations is available at laparks.org/reccenter and lapl.org/branches. The city Department of Recreation and Parks also operates numerous public pools and splash pads, with information also available on the agency’s website.

Extended hours of 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. will be offered at four Los Angeles city facilities for residents and their pets:

— Canoga Park Senior Citizens Center, 7326 Jordan Ave.

— North Hollywood Senior Citizen Center, 5301 Tujunga Ave.

— Pecan Recreation Center, 145 S. Pecan St., downtown Los Angeles

— Algin Sutton Recreation Center, 8800 S. Hoover St., South Los Angeles

Los Angeles County also operates numerous cooling centers, including libraries, rec centers, pools and splash pads. Locations are available through an interactive map at ready.lacounty.gov/heat.

“Extreme heat, as you know, is one of the most serious weather hazards that we face, and we’re seeing it more frequently each year,” Los Angeles County Supervisor and Board Chair Hilda Solis said during a Monday news conference.

“Regions such as the San Gabriel Valley and the San Fernando Valley will be especially impacted. It’s critical that we all take precautions to protect ourselves, our families, and our neighbors,” Solis added.

A list of cooling centers throughout Riverside County can be found at https://countyofriverside.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=5ffaf74e67244b829796eeb8df6bc6a7.

Forecasters said temperatures are expected to cool off next week, but they will still be about 5 to 15 degrees above normal.

The official start of spring is Friday.

Southern California breaks more heat records — and it’s not over yet Orange County Register

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Southern California breaks more heat records — and it’s not over yet

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