Southern California Battles Unprecedented Heat Just Days After Severe Winter Storm.
In the wake of torrential rains that led to inundation across sections of the city, the City of Angels is now grappling with unusually hot temperatures for this time of year.
Record-Shattering Temperatures
By Friday afternoon, the thermometer reached 33 degrees Celsius (91 Fahrenheit) in the city center, per data from the National Weather Service. This breaks the prior high for this date, which was 88°F (31°C) and was recorded in the previous year.
"Unusually high temperatures" were highlighted on official charts for the region.
Public Health Alerts
Forecasters issued a warning that Friday's weather posed an "increased danger for heat illness" for vulnerable populations. Their advice suggested:
- Drinking plenty of fluids.
- Limiting outdoor activities during the afternoon hours of the day.
- Not leaving anyone unattended in a hot car.
A Dramatic Weather Swing
This dramatic increase in temperature follows closely after a intense storm system that battered the state recently. That storm brought thunderstorms, high winds, and heavy snow to mountainous regions, leading to evacuation orders for millions residents.
Unfortunately, the conditions also caused a deadly avalanche in the Lake Tahoe area, which resulted in nine fatalities.
Temperatures Easing
Looking ahead a cooldown is coming. Temperatures were expected to fall to around 16 degrees Celsius (61 Fahrenheit) in downtown LA by overnight.
Additional areas that experienced the 90-degree mark included Burbank, Woodland Hills, and Long Beach. Meanwhile, Westwood, Camarillo, Santa Maria, and Oxnard were forecast to see the high 80s.
For the weekend, downtown Los Angeles can expect temperatures in the 80s, with mid-70s temperatures on tap for the start of March.
