Southern California Battles Historic High Temperatures Only One Week Following Major Winter Storm.
Following a week of heavy downpours that caused flooding across sections of the city, the City of Angels is now confronting abnormally hot conditions for the end of February.
All-Time High Temperatures
By Friday afternoon, the thermometer reached 33 degrees Celsius (91 Fahrenheit) in downtown Los Angeles, as reported by the National Weather Service. This easily surpasses the old record for this date, which was 31 degrees Celsius (88 Fahrenheit) and was set in the previous year.
"Unusually high temperatures" were noted on forecast graphics for the region.
Safety Advisories
The weather service cautioned that Friday's heat posed an "higher threat for heat illness" for people sensitive to heat. Their guidance featured:
- Drinking plenty of fluids.
- Avoiding outdoor activities during the peak heat of the day.
- Not leaving kids or animals unattended in a parked vehicle.
An Extreme Weather Swing
This sharp rise in heat comes on the heels of a powerful storm system that struck the state recently. That event unleashed thunderstorms, high winds, and heavy snow to the mountains, triggering flash flood warnings for countless residents.
Tragically, the storm also caused a deadly avalanche in the Lake Tahoe area, which resulted in nine fatalities.
Forecast Ahead
Looking ahead cooler conditions will arrive. Temperatures were expected to decrease to around sixty-one degrees Fahrenheit in central Los Angeles by late Friday.
Several cities that reached the 90-degree mark included Woodland Hills, Long Beach, and Burbank. Additionally, Westwood, Camarillo, Santa Maria, and Oxnard were projected to experience the high eighties.
In the coming days, central Los Angeles can anticipate readings in the 80s, with mid-70s temperatures on tap for the start of March.
