California Set to Hit 101°F to Close Winter as Western U.S. Records Warmest Winter in Modern History
UNITED STATES — California is poised to close out winter with back-to-back days reaching 101°F, marking what is being described as the hottest winter temperature ever recorded in the state — capping off what data now shows is the warmest winter on record across much of the Western United States.
New temperature percentile data covering November 29, 2025 through February 26, 2026 reveals widespread, near-record warmth stretching from the Pacific Coast through the Rockies and into parts of the southern Plains.
Western States Deep in the 90th–100th Percentile
The map of mean daily temperature percentiles over the past 90 days shows extensive deep red shading across:
- California
- Oregon
- Washington
- Nevada
- Arizona
- Utah
- Idaho
- Montana
- Wyoming
- Colorado
- New Mexico
- Texas
Large portions of these states are running in the 90th to 100th percentile, meaning temperatures have been warmer than 90–100% of historical winters dating back to 1979–2020 averages.
Parts of California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas are especially concentrated in the highest percentile bracket.
California’s Historic 101°F Winter Heat
The most eye-catching development is California’s forecast to hit 101°F on consecutive days to end the meteorological winter season.
Triple-digit heat in winter is exceptionally rare. Achieving that threshold on back-to-back days further underscores how anomalous this pattern has become.
This surge is occurring in a broader context of sustained warmth rather than a single short-lived spike.
Rockies and Southwest Also Exceptionally Warm
The percentile data highlights:
- Colorado and Wyoming running well above normal
- Utah and Arizona entrenched in near-record warmth
- New Mexico and West Texas also deeply in the upper percentile range
Even parts of the Pacific Northwest — including Washington and Oregon — are significantly above seasonal norms.
This isn’t a localized event. It’s a regional-scale temperature anomaly affecting nearly the entire western half of the country.
How Unusual Is This?
Temperature percentile rankings measure how current conditions compare to long-term climatology.
Being in the 100th percentile means this winter ranks at or near the warmest in recorded history for those locations.
The data period from late November through late February shows sustained warmth, not just isolated heat events.
Implications of a Record Warm Winter
A winter this warm across the Western U.S. can influence:
- Snowpack levels in the Rockies and Sierra Nevada
- Water supply outlooks heading into spring
- Early wildfire season concerns
- Agriculture and growing season timing
Triple-digit winter heat in California only amplifies those concerns.
A Defining Winter for the West
Winter 2025–2026 is now positioned to go down as one of the warmest — if not the warmest — in recorded history for the Western United States.
With California approaching 101°F to close the season and widespread 90th–100th percentile temperatures across multiple states, this winter is redefining what seasonal norms look like in the region.
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