Experiencing The Warmest Winter On Record, SoCal Faces A Blistering Heat Wave

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Stay cool, Southern California. It's officially still winter, but the thermometer is about to say otherwise, and that's been the story of winter 2025-26.

The last few days of winter — spring begins March 20 — will likely confirm that this normally cool season is the warmest on record in Southern California.

A very hot, dry upper-level ridge is forecast to move over the region this week, bringing daytime high temperatures approaching 100 degrees across the valleys, according to the National Weather Service.

"Record high temperatures [are] expected for several locations Thursday and Friday," the agency reported. "Flow turns weakly onshore for the weekend, which may provide some relief to coastal areas. However, most of Southern California remains hot and dry through the weekend.

"Another (potentially stronger) ridge will begin to take shape by early next week with more record high temperatures currently in the forecast," the NWS continued.

A heat advisory is in effect across the Southland from 10 a.m. Thursday until 8 p.m. Friday.

During the period, daytime high temperatures are expected to reach the mid-90s in the Inland Valleys and mid- to low 80s in the mountains.

For those wanting to escape the heat by heading to the beach, don't expect a lot of relief.

Temperatures are forecast in the upper 80s to near 90 for the coast. The probability of exceeding 85 degrees on Thursday and Friday this week is 80% for downtown San Diego, according to the NWS.

Looking ahead to next week, weather models indicate another upper ridge from the west.

"Therefore, there is high confidence in well-above-normal temperatures and dry conditions to continue through next week," according to the NWS. "In fact, there is some indication that temperatures next week could be even higher than what is forecast for this week. However, exactly how hot it will be and for how long is still to be determined."

If you think this winter feels like the warmest on record, you would be right. From December 2025 through February 2026, all Southern California counties experienced their highest average temperatures ever recorded for the three-month period dating back to 1896, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

"The West and Southwest each experienced their warmest winter on record, while the Northwest, Northern Rockies and Plains as well as the South each ranked second warmest," according to a March 9 NOAA report.

The anomaly was the Northeast. The region was cooler than average, ranking in the lowest third of its historical record.

Overall, this meteorological winter (December through February) ranked as the second-warmest in the contiguous U.S., according to NOAA.