Southern California Faces Unprecedented High Temperatures Only One Week After Major Winter Weather.
In the wake of significant rainfall that resulted in floodwaters across parts of the city, Los Angeles is now grappling with unseasonably hot temperatures for the end of February.
Record-Shattering Readings
On Friday midday, the mercury reached ninety-one degrees Fahrenheit in downtown Los Angeles, according to the National Weather Service. This exceeds the previous daily record for this date, which was 31 degrees Celsius (88 Fahrenheit) and was set just last year.
"Unusually high temperatures" were noted on NWS graphics for the region.
Public Health Alerts
Forecasters cautioned that Friday's weather posed an "elevated risk for heat illness" for vulnerable populations. Their advice included:
- Keeping well-hydrated.
- Limiting outdoor activities during the afternoon hours of the day.
- Ensuring you do not leave kids or animals unattended in a hot car.
A Dramatic Shift
This sharp rise in mercury follows closely after a powerful storm system that struck the region recently. That system delivered high winds, thunderstorms, and significant snowfall to mountainous regions, causing flash flood warnings for countless residents.
Unfortunately, the conditions also resulted in a deadly avalanche in the Tahoe area, which claimed the lives of.
Weekend Outlook
The outlook suggests cooler conditions is expected. Readings were expected to drop to around 16 degrees Celsius (61 Fahrenheit) in the city by Friday night.
Several cities that reached ninety degrees were Long Beach, Burbank, and Woodland Hills. Meanwhile, Westwood, Camarillo, Santa Maria, and Oxnard were expected to reach the high eighties.
In the coming days, central Los Angeles can expect weather in the 80s, with mid-70s temperatures on tap for the week ahead.
