Warmer weather building across Desert Southwest
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - Residents across Yuma County and the Imperial Valley should get ready for a big warm-up over the next several days, with temperatures climbing well above normal and potentially reaching the first triple-digit readings of the year by early next week.
After some clouds earlier in the week, conditions are drying out across the region as high pressure builds over the Southwest. That will lead to a steady warming trend beginning Wednesday.
High temperatures around Yuma and El Centro are expected to reach the low to mid-80s on Wednesday, already several degrees above average for mid-March.
By Thursday, temperatures will surge into the lower to mid-90s, roughly 15 degrees above normal for this time of year.
The heat will continue to build heading into the weekend. Forecast models show a strong ridge of high pressure settling over the region, allowing daytime highs to climb 20 degrees above seasonal averages.
That means many communities across the Yuma area and Imperial Valley could see temperatures in the mid to upper 90s by Friday and through the weekend.
Meteorologists say the warming trend likely won't stop there. By early next week, parts of the lower desert, including Yuma and El Centro, could reach 100 degrees for the first time this year. If that happens, it would threaten several daily temperature records set during past March heat waves.
The unusually warm weather will also bring low humidity levels, dropping into the single digits to low teens later in the week.
While winds are expected to stay relatively light, the combination of dry air and warm temperatures will increase fire weather concerns across the desert.
For residents in the Yuma and Imperial Valley region, this stretch of heat will bring minor heat risk, especially during the afternoon hours.
Officials recommend staying hydrated, limiting strenuous outdoor activity during peak heat, and checking on pets and vulnerable neighbors.
With the warm pattern expected to persist into next week, the Desert Southwest could experience an extended run of near-record or record-breaking temperatures well before the official start of spring.
