Southern California Battles Historic High Temperatures Only One Week After Major Winter Storm.
Following a week of heavy downpours that led to inundation across sections of the city, the City of Angels is now confronting unseasonably warm conditions for late February.
All-Time High Temperatures
By Friday afternoon, the mercury climbed to 91°F (33°C) in downtown Los Angeles, according to meteorologists. This breaks the prior high for February 27th, which was 31 degrees Celsius (88 Fahrenheit) and was established just last year.
"Exceptionally warm weather" were noted on NWS charts for the region.
Safety Warnings
The weather service issued a warning that Friday's conditions posed an "elevated risk for heat illness" for vulnerable populations. Their recommendations suggested:
- Keeping well-hydrated.
- Limiting outdoor activities during the hottest part of the day.
- Not leaving anyone unattended in a parked vehicle.
A Dramatic Weather Swing
This sharp rise in heat comes on the heels of a powerful storm system that struck the state recently. That storm unleashed high winds, thunderstorms, and significant snowfall to the mountains, triggering evacuation orders for many residents.
Sadly, the severe weather also triggered a deadly avalanche in the Lake Tahoe area, which resulted in nine fatalities.
Forecast Ahead
Looking ahead a cooldown will arrive. Temperatures were expected to drop to around 16 degrees Celsius (61 Fahrenheit) in central Los Angeles by overnight.
Other locales that experienced the 90-degree mark included Long Beach, Burbank, and Woodland Hills. Additionally, Oxnard, Westwood, Camarillo, and Santa Maria were forecast to see the upper eighties.
For the weekend, downtown Los Angeles can anticipate temperatures in the 80s, with mid-70s temperatures likely for the start of March.
