Los Angeles Faces Record-Breaking Heat Only Days Following Severe Winter Storm.
After enduring heavy downpours that led to inundation across sections of the city, LA is now confronting abnormally hot conditions for the end of February.
All-Time High Heat
During the day Friday, the thermometer reached 91°F (33°C) in downtown Los Angeles, per data from the National Weather Service. This easily surpasses the prior high for February 27th, which was eighty-eight degrees Fahrenheit and was set just last year.
"Very warm conditions" were noted on NWS maps for the region.
Public Health Advisories
Authorities cautioned that Friday's heat posed an "elevated risk for heat illness" for people sensitive to heat. Their advice featured:
- Staying hydrated.
- Reducing outdoor activities during the hottest part of the day.
- Not leaving kids or animals unattended in a car.
A Dramatic Reversal
This sharp rise in heat comes on the heels of a powerful winter storm that struck the state earlier in the week. That event brought high winds, thunderstorms, and significant snowfall to higher elevations, leading to mudslide risks for many residents.
Unfortunately, the storm also triggered a large avalanche in the Lake Tahoe area, which claimed the lives of.
Temperatures Easing
The outlook suggests a cooldown will arrive. Readings were expected to drop to around sixty-one degrees Fahrenheit in downtown LA by overnight.
Several cities that reached ninety degrees included Woodland Hills, Long Beach, and Burbank. Elsewhere, Santa Maria, Oxnard, Camarillo, and Westwood were projected to see the high eighties.
In the coming days, central Los Angeles can expect readings in the 80s, with a further cooldown expected for the following week.
