California cities may see first 90-degree days soon. When will the heat arrive?
The western U.S. is set to face an early spring heat wave next week. And Northern California has a chance of record-high temperatures.
The National Weather Service reported Friday morning “well above normal temperatures” are expected starting over the weekend. According to meteorologist Jacob Spender, weather models extending further into the spring do not confidently show a clear end to the heat wave.
Spender previously told The Bee models show a high-pressure ridge descending over the West, bringing high heat and low precipitation across the region.
Starting Monday, March 16, high temperatures above 90 degrees are possible for major cities across the state, according to the forecast. Temperatures could continue to climb through the end of the workweek, with numerous Northern California cities expected to see highs in the upper 80s and low 90s, according to the weather service.
Spender said the unseasonably warm weather could be more than 15 degrees higher than expected for mid-March.
A longer term climate prediction model for March 17-23 showed the majority of California has a 90% to 100% chance of temperatures above the average for this time of year. Precipitation amounts for the same timeframe have a 50-60% chance of being below normal, according to the weather service’s model.
Will the California heat wave break records?
The incoming heat wave has the chance to break long-standing records, according to Spender. Various cities across the state may see their earliest 90-degree days ever, weather service data indicated.
In Sacramento, the earliest day of the year the city has experienced 90 degree highs was April 6, 1989. Modesto could see a 66-year record broken, as its earliest ever 90-degree day was April 4, 1960.
Redding may just barely break a 112-year record. The city’s earliest recorded day with 90 degree high temperatures was March 17, 1914.
What’s in the forecast for the California heat wave?
The Sacramento National Weather Service office predicted Tuesday, March 17 would bring the hottest days of the year, so far, to much of Northern California.
The capital city and Modesto are both forecast to hit 90 degrees for the first time in 2026 on March 17. Further north, Redding could experience a 93-degree day on March 16. On Wednesday, March 18, Stockton and Vacaville may break into the 90s.
According to the Hanford weather service branch, Fresno and Merced may be spared from hitting 90 degrees by Monday, March 16. However, the cities reportedly have an 80-90% chance of reaching highs exceeding 90 starting Tuesday, March 17.
San Luis Obispo was under a heat advisory Friday, with temperatures from 85 to 95 degrees in the forecast. As of Friday morning, the city was not expected to see highs of 90 until Tuesday, but the weather could hover in the upper 80s through the work week.
The Sacramento office of the National Weather Service encouraged people to practice heat safety as temperatures peak. Protecting pets from the heat, drinking plentiful water, staying hydrated during outdoor activities and taking breaks in the shade were among the weather service’s recommendations.
This story was originally published March 13, 2026 at 9:38 AM with the headline "California cities may see first 90-degree days soon. When will the heat arrive?."
