The western U.S. is set to face an early spring heatwave next week. And there’s a chance of record-high temperatures across much of California.

The National Weather Service says “well above normal temperatures” are expected starting at the end of the workweek.

According to meteorologist Jacob Spender, weather models extending further into the spring do not confidently show a clear end to the heatwave. Computer models show a high-pressure ridge descending over the West in the coming days, bringing high heat and low precipitation across the region.

Meantime, a major shift may be brewing in the Pacific Ocean: Forecasters say El Niño could develop later this year. If it does, it can reshape weather patterns across the United States during the second half of 2026, as well as the Atlantic hurricane season.

El Niño is part of a natural climate cycle that shows up every few years. It happens when ocean water warms in the tropical Pacific near the equator. The opposite phase is La Niña, when that same region runs cooler than average.

When such a large stretch of the Pacific warms (or cools) for months at a time, it can nudge the jet stream into a different position. That shift can change where storms track and where wet or dry patterns set up around the world.

Story Date: April 6, 2026