Summary
An intense heat wave, described as a "heat dome," has caused record high temperatures across much of the U.S. Southwest and beyond. More than a dozen states have experienced their hottest March day on record. Scientists attribute this extreme heat event largely to climate change.
Key Facts
- A heat wave has brought summer-like temperatures to the U.S. Southwest in March.
- Temperatures reached 112 degrees Fahrenheit in parts of Arizona and California, setting new records for March.
- At least 14 states recorded their hottest March day due to the heat dome.
- The heat dome acts like a lid in the atmosphere, trapping warm air over large areas.
- The dome is moving eastward, potentially bringing record temperatures to other regions.
- 479 weather stations across the U.S. reported new March temperature records.
- Scientists say human-caused climate change made the heat wave 800 times more likely.
- Climate change is believed to have added several degrees to the extreme temperatures.
