In brief
San Francisco witnesses its hottest March in over two decades with temperatures reaching nearly 90°F (32.2°C), while nearby cities like Las Vegas and Phoenix brace for unprecedented highs. Meanwhile, the Midwest grapples with harsh winter storms, leading to widespread flight cancellations. Residents express mixed feelings about the early heat, with some reveling in the warmth and others struggling without air conditioning.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Franciscans bared an unusual amount of skin for this time of year Tuesday, as a city better known for its chilly summers, drizzle, and fog is seeing its hottest March in at least two decades, part of a rare winter heat wave baking the U.S. West.While the Bay Area flirts with nearly 90 degrees (32.2 C) highs, Phoenix is expected to top 100°F (37.7°C) this week — something it usually does in early May and has never done before March 26 — and Las Vegas could also see its earliest ever triple-digit temperature in the coming days.Meanwhile, the Midwest and eastern half of the country are digging out after powerful snow storms that led to thousands of flight cancellations this week.Dogs and sunbathers flocked to Crissy Field on the north end of San Francisco, as the Golden Gate Bridge shimmered nearby. 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.Resident Jessica Ling said the hot weather was a nice surprise, 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.Records across the Bay Area toppled Monday and highs Tuesday were projected to climb even higher. San Francisco International Airport hit 83°F (28.3°C) Monday, while Silicon Valley’s Redwood City reached 90°F (32.2°C), breaking records set in 2004. San Jose reached 85°F (29.4°C), tying a record set in 1914.Weather forecasters in Arizona issued extreme heat warnings for areas in Grand Canyon National Park from Wednesday through Sunday. They say temperatures could range from 96 to 104°F (35.5 to 40°C) in the lower elevations of the park, advising visitors to avoid strenuous hiking during the hottest part of the day, which they identify as 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.At White Sands National Park in southern New Mexico, park officials were bracing for Spring Break crowds and urging people to check the forecast before heading out. High temperatures could reach the mid-90s°F (around 35°C).In Colorado, this heat wave follows an unusually warm winter that has led to a lack of snow in the state’s mountains, which provides essential water to millions. Water providers in the Denver area have already enacted or are considering limits on lawn watering days as they face a reduced water supply for summer.
