Modesto, Redding, Red Bluff, Sacramento and Stockton Smash and Tie Records During Historic March Heatwave Across Northern California

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA — A prolonged March heatwave has rewritten the record books across parts of Northern California, with multiple cities including Modesto, Red Bluff, Redding, Sacramento and Stockton either breaking or tying high-temperature records between March 15 and March 22, 2026.

According to preliminary data from the National Weather Service in Sacramento, the stretch of unusually hot weather produced both daily records and all-time March records at several airport observation sites.

All-Time March Records Tied and Broken

Several stations reached rare territory for the month of March:

Modesto Airport: 91°F on March 18 and March 20 (All-time March record)
Redding Area: 93°F on March 20 (ties all-time March record)
Sacramento Executive Airport: 88°F on March 18 and March 20 (ties all-time March record)
Stockton Airport: 90°F on March 19 (All-time March record)

These readings represent some of the highest March temperatures ever observed at those locations.

Daily Records Piled Up Across the Region

Between March 15 and March 22, multiple daily high records were either broken or tied.

March 16:

Red Bluff Airport: 90°F (High)
Redding Area: 92°F (High)
Sacramento Executive: 83°F (High)

March 17:

Sacramento Executive: 86°F (High)
Stockton Airport: 87°F (High)

March 18:

Modesto Airport: 91°F (High), 55°F (Warm Low)
Sacramento Executive: 88°F (High), 55°F (Warm Low)
Stockton Airport: 89°F (High), 54°F (Warm Low)

March 19:

Modesto: 88°F (High)
Red Bluff: 88°F (High)
Redding: 88°F (High)
Sacramento Executive: 87°F (High)
Stockton: 90°F (High)

March 20:

Modesto: 91°F (High)
Red Bluff: 87°F (High)
Redding: 93°F (High)
Sacramento Executive: 88°F (High)
Stockton: 88°F (High)

March 21:

Modesto: 83°F (High), 59°F (Warm Low, Tied)
Red Bluff: 86°F (High)
Sacramento Executive: 85°F (High), 58°F (Warm Low, Tied)
Stockton: 84°F (High)

March 22:

Modesto: 84°F (High)
Sacramento Executive: 84°F (High, Tied)

Earliest 90-Degree Days on Record

Several locations also logged their earliest 90-degree day on record:

Modesto: March 18
Red Bluff: March 16
Redding: March 16
Stockton: March 19

These dates are notably early for such extreme warmth in Northern California.

What Happens Next

While temperatures have eased slightly, forecasters note that additional daily records could still be threatened before the week concludes.

All reported values remain preliminary.

Bottom Line

The March 2026 heatwave delivered multiple all-time March records and numerous daily records across Modesto, Red Bluff, Redding, Sacramento and Stockton, marking one of the most significant early-spring warm spells in Northern California history.

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