In the wake of heavy downpours that caused flooding across sections of the city, the City of Angels is now confronting unseasonably warm weather for late February.
Record-Shattering Heat
During the day Friday, the mercury reached 33 degrees Celsius (91 Fahrenheit) in central LA, as reported by the National Weather Service. This easily surpasses the prior high for February 27th, which was eighty-eight degrees Fahrenheit and was established in the previous year.
"Very warm conditions" were highlighted on NWS graphics for the region.
Public Health Alerts
The weather service stated that Friday's heat posed an "increased danger for heat illness" for people sensitive to heat. Their guidance featured:
- Keeping well-hydrated.
- Avoiding outdoor activities during the afternoon hours of the day.
- Never leaving children or pets unattended in a hot car.
An Extreme Reversal
This sudden spike in temperature comes on the heels of a massive winter storm that pummeled the region earlier in the week. That system brought high winds, thunderstorms, and significant snowfall to the mountains, leading to flash flood warnings for millions residents.
Tragically, the conditions also caused a large avalanche in the Lake Tahoe area, which resulted in nine fatalities.
Forecast Ahead
The outlook suggests a cooldown is expected. Temperatures were forecast to fall to around 16 degrees Celsius (61 Fahrenheit) in downtown LA by Friday night.
Other locales that reached ninety degrees were Woodland Hills, Long Beach, and Burbank. Meanwhile, Oxnard, Westwood, Camarillo, and Santa Maria were projected to experience the high eighties.
For the weekend, central Los Angeles can see weather in the 80s, with cooler weather likely for the following week.
