LA Experiences Historic High Temperatures Only Days Following Severe Winter Weather.
Following a week of significant rainfall that caused flooding across parts of the city, LA is now grappling with abnormally warm weather for late February.
Record-Setting Heat
By Friday afternoon, the thermometer reached 33 degrees Celsius (91 Fahrenheit) in the city center, according to meteorologists. This exceeds the prior high for this date, which was 31 degrees Celsius (88 Fahrenheit) and was established in the previous year.
"Unusually high temperatures" were noted on official maps for the region.
Safety Advisories
The weather service issued a warning that Friday's heat posed an "elevated risk for heat illness" for people sensitive to heat. Their recommendations suggested:
- Keeping well-hydrated.
- Avoiding outdoor activities during the afternoon hours of the day.
- Not leaving kids or animals unattended in a hot car.
A Dramatic Shift
This dramatic increase in heat comes on the heels of a massive winter storm that battered the state recently. That system brought heavy snow, strong winds, and thunderstorms to higher elevations, causing flash flood warnings for millions residents.
Unfortunately, the storm also triggered a large avalanche in the Tahoe area, which resulted in nine fatalities.
Temperatures Easing
Forecasters predict a cooldown is coming. Temperatures were predicted to fall to around 16 degrees Celsius (61 Fahrenheit) in the city by overnight.
Several cities that hit ninety degrees were Woodland Hills, Long Beach, and Burbank. Additionally, Oxnard, Westwood, Camarillo, and Santa Maria were projected to see the high eighties.
For the weekend, downtown Los Angeles can expect temperatures in the 80s, with a further cooldown likely for the start of March.
