Southern California Faces Historic Heat Only Days After Severe Winter Weather.
Following a week of significant rainfall that caused flooding across sections of the city, Los Angeles is now seeing unseasonably warm temperatures for late February.
Record-Shattering Heat
During the day Friday, the mercury reached 33 degrees Celsius (91 Fahrenheit) in downtown Los Angeles, per data from meteorologists. This breaks the old record for February 27th, which was 88°F (31°C) and was established in the previous year.
"Unusually high temperatures" were noted on forecast charts for the region.
Public Health Alerts
Authorities cautioned that Friday's conditions posed an "higher threat for heat illness" for people sensitive to heat. Their recommendations featured:
- Staying hydrated.
- Limiting outdoor activities during the peak heat of the day.
- Not leaving kids or animals unattended in a car.
A Dramatic Weather Swing
This sharp rise in temperature comes on the heels of a powerful winter storm that struck the area earlier in the week. That system unleashed heavy snow, strong winds, and thunderstorms to higher elevations, triggering flash flood warnings for countless residents.
Sadly, the severe weather also caused a deadly avalanche in the Lake Tahoe area, which claimed the lives of.
Temperatures Easing
The outlook suggests cooler conditions is coming. Temperatures were predicted to drop to around 61°F (16°C) in the city by late Friday.
Other locales that experienced the 90-degree mark included Long Beach, Burbank, and Woodland Hills. Elsewhere, Westwood, Camarillo, Santa Maria, and Oxnard were expected to see the high eighties.
Over Saturday and Sunday, central Los Angeles can see weather in the 80s, with cooler weather likely for the start of March.
