LA Battles Unprecedented Heat Only One Week Following Severe Winter Storm.
Following a week of significant rainfall that led to inundation across areas in the city, the City of Angels is now seeing abnormally hot conditions for late February.
Record-Shattering Temperatures
On Friday midday, the temperature soared to 33 degrees Celsius (91 Fahrenheit) in downtown Los Angeles, per data from the National Weather Service. This easily surpasses the old record for this date, which was 31 degrees Celsius (88 Fahrenheit) and was established in the previous year.
"Unusually high temperatures" were highlighted on official charts for the region.
Public Health Alerts
Forecasters stated that Friday's heat posed an "elevated risk for heat illness" for people sensitive to heat. Their guidance included:
- Keeping well-hydrated.
- Reducing outdoor activities during the hottest part of the day.
- Never leaving kids or animals unattended in a parked vehicle.
A Sharp Shift
This sudden spike in temperature comes on the heels of a massive storm system that struck the region last week. That storm brought high winds, thunderstorms, and significant snowfall to mountainous regions, triggering evacuation orders for millions residents.
Sadly, the severe weather also resulted in a large avalanche in the Lake Tahoe area, which resulted in nine fatalities.
Weekend Outlook
The outlook suggests a cooldown is coming. Temperatures were forecast to decrease to around 16 degrees Celsius (61 Fahrenheit) in the city by late Friday.
Other locales that experienced ninety degrees were Long Beach, Burbank, and Woodland Hills. Additionally, Oxnard, Westwood, Camarillo, and Santa Maria were forecast to reach the high 80s.
Over Saturday and Sunday, downtown Los Angeles can see readings in the 80s, with mid-70s temperatures expected for the week ahead.
