Southern California Battles Historic High Temperatures Just Days After Severe Winter Weather.
Following a week of significant rainfall that led to inundation across sections of the city, Los Angeles is now seeing abnormally high temperatures for late February.
Record-Shattering Temperatures
By Friday afternoon, the mercury reached 91°F (33°C) in the city center, per data from weather officials. This exceeds the old record for February 27th, which was 88°F (31°C) and was recorded in the previous year.
"Exceptionally warm weather" were labeled on forecast charts for the region.
Safety Advisories
The weather service cautioned that Friday's conditions posed an "increased danger for heat illness" for vulnerable populations. Their advice suggested:
- Keeping well-hydrated.
- Reducing outdoor activities during the peak heat of the day.
- Not leaving anyone unattended in a parked vehicle.
An Extreme Shift
This sharp rise in heat arrives just after a intense winter storm that pummeled the area earlier in the week. That system unleashed heavy snow, strong winds, and thunderstorms to mountainous regions, triggering flash flood warnings for countless residents.
Sadly, the conditions also triggered a deadly avalanche in the Tahoe area, which resulted in nine fatalities.
Weekend Outlook
Forecasters predict some relief is coming. Readings were expected to decrease to around 61°F (16°C) in downtown LA by late Friday.
Additional areas that reached ninety degrees were Woodland Hills, Long Beach, and Burbank. Meanwhile, Westwood, Camarillo, Santa Maria, and Oxnard were projected to experience the high 80s.
Over Saturday and Sunday, downtown Los Angeles can anticipate weather in the 80s, with a further cooldown likely for the following week.
