Southern California Battles Historic Heat Just One Week Following Severe Winter Weather.
Following a week of heavy downpours that led to inundation across parts of the city, LA is now seeing unusually hot temperatures for the end of February.
Record-Setting Heat
By Friday afternoon, the thermometer reached ninety-one degrees Fahrenheit in downtown Los Angeles, according to meteorologists. This easily surpasses the old record for February 27th, which was eighty-eight degrees Fahrenheit and was recorded just last year.
"Exceptionally warm weather" were labeled on official graphics for the region.
Safety Warnings
Forecasters issued a warning that Friday's heat posed an "increased danger for heat illness" for people sensitive to heat. Their guidance included:
- Keeping well-hydrated.
- Reducing outdoor activities during the afternoon hours of the day.
- Never leaving kids or animals unattended in a hot car.
An Extreme Shift
This sharp rise in heat comes on the heels of a massive winter storm that battered the region last week. That system unleashed high winds, thunderstorms, and significant snowfall to the mountains, triggering evacuation orders for many residents.
Tragically, the storm also triggered a large avalanche in the Lake Tahoe area, which claimed the lives of.
Weekend Outlook
Forecasters predict a cooldown will arrive. Temperatures were forecast to decrease to around 16 degrees Celsius (61 Fahrenheit) in the city by Friday night.
Several cities that experienced the 90-degree mark featured Woodland Hills, Long Beach, and Burbank. Elsewhere, Westwood, Camarillo, Santa Maria, and Oxnard were forecast to see the high 80s.
For the weekend, central LA can see temperatures in the 80s, with a further cooldown expected for the start of March.
