Southern California Battles Historic High Temperatures Only Days Following Severe Winter Storm.
Following a week of torrential rains that resulted in floodwaters across sections of the city, LA is now grappling with unseasonably hot temperatures for this time of year.
All-Time High Heat
By Friday afternoon, the thermometer soared to ninety-one degrees Fahrenheit in central LA, according to the National Weather Service. This easily surpasses the old record for February 27th, which was eighty-eight degrees Fahrenheit and was recorded just last year.
"Very warm conditions" were noted on NWS charts for the region.
Public Health Warnings
The weather service issued a warning that Friday's weather posed an "elevated risk for heat illness" for those at risk. Their recommendations featured:
- Keeping well-hydrated.
- Avoiding outdoor activities during the peak heat of the day.
- Never leaving anyone unattended in a car.
An Extreme Weather Swing
This dramatic increase in heat follows closely after a powerful winter storm that battered the region earlier in the week. That event unleashed thunderstorms, high winds, and heavy snow to the mountains, causing mudslide risks for countless residents.
Tragically, the storm also triggered a deadly avalanche in the Lake Tahoe area, which resulted in nine fatalities.
Temperatures Easing
Forecasters predict a cooldown is expected. Readings were forecast to fall to around sixty-one degrees Fahrenheit in the city by late Friday.
Additional areas that hit ninety degrees were Woodland Hills, Long Beach, and Burbank. Meanwhile, Santa Maria, Oxnard, Camarillo, and Westwood were expected to reach the upper eighties.
In the coming days, downtown Los Angeles can anticipate readings in the eighties, with cooler weather on tap for the start of March.