Insider Blog: March 2026 Weather Recap
March was an overall HOT month with more days ABOVE normal. We had an historic heat wave that brought us the HOTTEST March on record, which led to daily and monthly record temperatures for multiple days. Take a look at our weather recap and stats for the month of March.
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA-TV)- It was a HOT month overall! In fact, it was the HOTTEST March on record. Pretty much the entire month, we had well-above-normal temperatures. We also broke and tied multiple daily record highs and lows. Take a look.
Yuma broke/tied 12 daily record highs and broke 7 record warm lows in the month of March. You can see the full list of temperature records for the month of March for both Yuma and El Centro by clicking here.
The biggest record broken was our all-time high monthly record. Yuma hit 109 degrees on Friday, March 20th, making it the hottest temperature for the month and beating the monthly all-time record of 102 degrees.
El Centro crushed their monthly record as well.
We also can't forget the historical record with Martinez Lake in Yuma County, which hit the HOTTEST HIGH TEMPERATURE in the entire United States recorded in the month of March by reaching 110 degrees on Thursday, March 19th, 2026. This was a huge deal and definitely made history.
With all the heat we had in March, it's no surprise that March 2026 is now the hottest March on record for both Yuma and El Centro. Take a look at our warmest March recorded.
With all this heat, it also brought our FIRST Extreme Heat Warning of the year and also marked the EARLIEST Extreme Heat Warning to be issued.
The earliest heat warning on record issued was April 26-30, 2020.
It's been an overall dry month, with one day where Yuma had light rain one day out of the month. It was very light, but it was at least measurable. 0.03" was recorded on Monday, March 9th.
The rain we did get this month put us behind our monthly rain total average for the month. We accumulated 0.03", and our average for January is 0.39", which leaves us below -0.36" for the month.
Now, this month isn't ranked the wettest, but it's ranked 102 in terms of being the driest. Our number one wettest for March is 3.33" in 1905.
Now, let's look at where Yuma stands with our yearly rain total. Since the start of the year, so far for 2026, Yuma has accumulated a 0.03", which is a very small amount, but it is something. And comparing it with our 2026 yearly average, we actually should be at 1.16", which is well-below-normal.
However, with what Yuma has accumulated so far for 2026 and comparing it to our total around this same time back in 2025, we were actually at 0.07" in 2025.
At the start of this year, January 2026, the majority of the Desert Southwest wasn't having any drought, just a little of dry drought conditions for a small part of Yuma and La Paz Counties. Take a look.
However, with the
Back in February, our drought was showing that the majority of Yuma and Imperial County wasn't displaying drought.
However, with the lack of rain and very hot weather we had this month, it actually brought drought conditions for the Desert Southwest. Now Yuma and La Paz Counties are having 100% dry drought conditions, and even a small chunk is under the moderate category. Even Imperial County is seeing dry drought conditions as well.
You can also check our drought conditions weekly for both Arizona and California.
Overall, for both Yuma and El Centro had above-normal temperatures and below average rainfall for March.
You can also read more about Yuma and El Centro's 2026 March Climate Stats Data Report for the month from the NWS Phoenix.
