Southern California Battles Historic Heat Just Days After Severe Winter Weather.
Following a week of significant rainfall that resulted in floodwaters across parts of the city, Los Angeles is now seeing abnormally hot temperatures for late February.
All-Time High Temperatures
By Friday afternoon, the thermometer climbed to 91°F (33°C) in downtown Los Angeles, as reported by weather officials. This exceeds the old record for this date, which was eighty-eight degrees Fahrenheit and was set in the previous year.
"Very warm conditions" were noted on forecast maps for the region.
Safety Warnings
The weather service cautioned that Friday's conditions posed an "higher threat for heat illness" for vulnerable populations. Their advice included:
- Drinking plenty of fluids.
- Avoiding outdoor activities during the peak heat of the day.
- Never leaving kids or animals unattended in a hot car.
An Extreme Reversal
This sudden spike in heat arrives just after a intense storm system that struck the state last week. That event unleashed heavy snow, strong winds, and thunderstorms to mountainous regions, causing mudslide risks for countless residents.
Unfortunately, the storm also resulted in a deadly avalanche in the Tahoe area, which left nine people dead from.
Forecast Ahead
Forecasters predict cooler conditions is expected. Temperatures were predicted to decrease to around sixty-one degrees Fahrenheit in downtown LA by overnight.
Additional areas that hit 90°F featured Woodland Hills, Long Beach, and Burbank. Meanwhile, Santa Maria, Oxnard, Camarillo, and Westwood were expected to reach the upper eighties.
For the weekend, central LA can anticipate temperatures in the 80s, with cooler weather on tap for the start of March.