An unprecedented heat wave in the West is on the verge of breaking the record for the hottest March temperature anywhere in the United States: 108 degrees. It’s an alarming signal of how hot the planet is getting and how fast it’s happening.A weather station near Martinez Lake, Arizona, posted a high temperature of 110 degrees on Thursday afternoon, which some media outlets reported as the record-breaker. But that weather station is a temporary one and not quality controlled for accuracy, according to the National Weather Service.The Martinez Lake temperature won’t be deemed a new national March heat record unless the National Centers for Environment Information decides to investigate it. CNN has reached out to NCEI for comment.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe nationwide record was at least preliminarily tied on Thursday afternoon. Both Indio and Thermal, California, hit 108 degrees at permanent, long-standing weather stations.It could all be a moot point as the scorching heat wave continues through the weekend, with temperatures expected to peak near the national record in Southern California or Arizona.An unusually strong and sprawling heat dome is the catalyst for the heat, but the magnitude is undoubtedly being worsened by planet-warming pollution. Heat waves are becoming more frequent, more severe and lasting longer as the world warms.Climate scientists at World Weather Attribution published an analysis Friday that found this heat wave would be “virtually impossible for this time of year in a world without human-induced climate change.”AdvertisementAdvertisementHeat domes of this strength are rare this early in the year, and its arrival ahead of schedule could actually make it more dangerous. “The early, prolonged nature of this heat with limited seasonal acclimation will increase the risk of heat impacts especially among sensitive populations or those without e …
