WEATHER

Heatwave presents challenges for National Weather Service, local energy utilities

Baseball fans watch the Los Angeles Dodgers play the San Francisco Giants during the fifth inning of a spring training baseball game with the heat forcing the game to end early March 18, 2026, in Phoenix. Phoenix is experiencing record high temperature, recording the earliest 100 degree day on (Associated Press/Ross D. Franklin)

Ross D. Franklin

The Valley is in the middle of a heatwave like it has never experienced this early in the year.

On March 18, the Valley experienced its earliest 100-degree day of year of all time. The Valley is under an extreme heat warning until Sunday night.

According to Erinanne Saffell, state climatologist of Arizona, this is very unexpected.

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