3-year-old hormones

Two days in a row now, Sarah has had out-of-control tantrums. We're talking knock-down, kicking and flailing, screaming at the top of her lungs tantrums for a duration of at least 30 minutes-in public! Good times for being the mom! The first one occurred at a friend's house when she didn't want to leave. She alternated screaming and sobbing from their apartment on 158th Street, to the subway station, in the subway station, on the C train, in the next subway station at 168th Street while we transferred, and until the A train came to take us home. People were seriously looking at us! It was awful! Today she had another super one at Lunch Bunch where she freaked out and had to be carried from the room (by me) to screech and flail in the hall until she finally calmed down. She continued to whine until we went home. I think the child has outrageous hormones. Is this possible for a 3-year-old? Do they have a monthly cycle of sorts? I may have to investigate this--do a little research, do some charting, read some books, etc. I am so not looking forward to the teenage years.