Arizona had its hottest spring in 131 years

Average March temperatures across the state were 12.5 degrees above normal.

1 minute read

June 7, 2026, 7:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


A lake harbor with white boats in Martinez Lake, Arizona.

Martinez Lake, Arizona recorded a temperature of 110 degrees in March. | sinaeve frederic / Shutterstock

A community in Arizona recorded the hottest March temperature in the state this year since records started being kept 131 years ago, reports Katherine Davis-Young for KJZZ.

In March, when the temperature in Martinez Lake hit 110, the average temperature across the state was 12.5 degrees above normal. In March, April and May, Phoenix's average temperature was 80.2 degrees, 6.4 degrees above normal. "April and May temperatures were more typical, but still hotter than what’s expected for those months. April was 4.4 degrees above normal and May was 2.1 degrees above normal."

The heat contributed to at least three deaths, with 67 potentially heat-related deaths still under investigation. "The record-hot spring followed Phoenix’s hottest winter on record and puts 2026 on-track to be among the hottest years on record in the Valley. 2024 and 2025 currently hold the records for the hottest and second-hottest year-round average temperatures in Phoenix."

Tuesday, June 2, 2026 in KJZZ

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