Southern California Faces Record-Breaking Heat Just One Week Following Severe Winter Storm.
After enduring significant rainfall that resulted in floodwaters across sections of the city, the City of Angels is now seeing abnormally warm weather for the end of February.
Record-Shattering Heat
On Friday midday, the thermometer reached 33 degrees Celsius (91 Fahrenheit) in downtown Los Angeles, as reported by the National Weather Service. This breaks the previous daily record for February 27th, which was 31 degrees Celsius (88 Fahrenheit) and was set just last year.
"Very warm conditions" were highlighted on NWS maps for the region.
Public Health Warnings
The weather service issued a warning that Friday's conditions posed an "elevated risk for heat illness" for those at risk. Their guidance included:
- Keeping well-hydrated.
- Limiting outdoor activities during the hottest part of the day.
- Never leaving anyone unattended in a parked vehicle.
A Dramatic Reversal
This sudden spike in temperature comes on the heels of a intense winter storm that pummeled the state last week. That storm unleashed high winds, thunderstorms, and significant snowfall to higher elevations, causing evacuation orders for many residents.
Unfortunately, the conditions also resulted in a deadly avalanche in the Tahoe area, which resulted in nine fatalities.
Weekend Outlook
Forecasters predict a cooldown will arrive. The heat were forecast to drop to around 61°F (16°C) in downtown LA by late Friday.
Other locales that reached 90°F included Burbank, Woodland Hills, and Long Beach. Meanwhile, Westwood, Camarillo, Santa Maria, and Oxnard were expected to experience the high 80s.
In the coming days, downtown LA can see temperatures in the 80s, with a further cooldown likely for the start of March.