Southern California Faces Unprecedented High Temperatures Only Days Following Severe Winter Weather.
Following a week of torrential rains that caused flooding across sections of the city, the City of Angels is now confronting unusually high weather for the end of February.
All-Time High Temperatures
By Friday afternoon, the temperature climbed to 33 degrees Celsius (91 Fahrenheit) in downtown Los Angeles, according to the National Weather Service. This breaks the prior high for this date, which was eighty-eight degrees Fahrenheit and was recorded in the previous year.
"Very warm conditions" were noted on NWS graphics for the region.
Public Health Alerts
Forecasters stated that Friday's conditions posed an "elevated risk for heat illness" for vulnerable populations. Their guidance suggested:
- Drinking plenty of fluids.
- Limiting outdoor activities during the hottest part of the day.
- Never leaving anyone unattended in a hot car.
An Extreme Reversal
This dramatic increase in mercury follows closely after a intense storm system that struck the state earlier in the week. That system brought thunderstorms, high winds, and heavy snow to mountainous regions, triggering flash flood warnings for countless residents.
Sadly, the conditions also caused a large avalanche in the Lake Tahoe area, which resulted in nine fatalities.
Forecast Ahead
Looking ahead cooler conditions will arrive. Temperatures were forecast to drop to around 61°F (16°C) in central Los Angeles by overnight.
Other locales that reached 90°F included Burbank, Woodland Hills, and Long Beach. Meanwhile, Oxnard, Westwood, Camarillo, and Santa Maria were expected to reach the upper eighties.
Over Saturday and Sunday, central LA can anticipate temperatures in the 80s, with cooler weather expected for the week ahead.
