Record March Heat to Scorch Los Angeles, US Southwest

An unusually early heat wave is set to grip Los Angeles and much of the Southwest, putting California’s already fragile snowpack, and therefore its water supplies, at risk.

Temperatures in downtown Los Angeles on Friday are forecast to reach 98F (37C), coming within a degree of the highest reading for the month set on March 29, 1879, according to the National Weather Service. Across the region, temperatures are expected to rise 20F to 30F above normal, with several daily records likely to fall and some areas potentially breaking all-time March highs, the agency said.

“Brutal heatwaves are not just a summertime concern ...