Southern California is bracing for a third straight day of record-breaking temperatures as an unusually long and intense heat wave in March sees the mercury soar 35 degrees above normal.
L.A. and Ventura counties broke more than a dozen daily temperature records Tuesday, when Woodland Hills reached 101 degrees, Burbank reached 99 degrees, Long Beach reached 99 degrees and Downtown L.A. reached 98 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
The high in Camarillo on Tuesday was 97 degrees, surpassing the daily temperature record by 11 degrees and the all-time March record by 3 degrees.
Extreme heat warnings are in place for most inland areas, and a heat advisory is in place until Friday for coastal areas, with officials urging people to remain vigilant. Symptoms of heat illness.
Orange County, San Diego County and the Inland Empire broke 13 records Tuesday and tied for fourth, according to weather service meteorologist Paul Steward. Anaheim notably hit 100-degree temperatures, surpassing the 90-degree record set in 2010, while Palm Springs hit a scorching 103 degrees.
Weather Service meteorologist Rose Schoenfeld said this weather event is currently on track to become the hottest March heat wave on record. Given that there are no significant changes to the heat forecast for the rest of the workweek, forecasters anticipate that many more daily temperature records will fall.
Temperatures began to rise on Thursday and Friday and although they dropped over the weekend, the heat rose again on Monday.
“This is quite an unprecedented heat wave because of its duration,” Steward said. “It looks like we’ll continue to have warm temperatures, possibly even into early next week.”
There’s about a 50% chance Palm Springs will reach 110 degrees on Thursday or Friday, a level it typically reaches in June, Steward said. The current record for earliest 110-degree day of the year was set on April 7, 1989.
“If we get to 110 in Palm Springs this weekend, we’ll break this record for several weeks,” Steward said. “This is just an example of how intense the heat is this time of year.”
LA County residents without access to air conditioning are encouraged to seek relief County Pool, Splash Pad or Cooling Center Near them.
“Heat causes more deaths in the U.S. each year than floods, hurricanes and lightning combined,” LA County Health Officer Mantu Davis said in a statement. If you or someone around you experiences symptoms of heat stroke or heat exhaustion, such as dizziness, nausea, fast heartbeat, confusion, or fainting, seek medical help immediately.
A Times analysis in 2024 showed that heat caused or contributed to the deaths of more than 21,500 Americans since 1999.
Public health officials are also advising people planning to cool off in the ocean to be mindful of elevated bacteria levels at some beaches.
These include Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, Santa Monica Beach near the Wilshire Boulevard Storm Drain, Venice near Topsail Street Extension, Mothers Beach in Marina del Rey, near the Santa Monica Pier, Topanga Canyon Beach near the Lagoon, Surfrider Beach near Malibu Lagoon, Escondido State Beach near Escondido Creek, Puerco Beach at Mary Canyon Including near storm drains and near Santa Monica Canyon Creek in Will Rogers State. beach.
Moderate relief is in store for later this week, when forecasters predict the powerful high pressure system will begin to level off, allowing temperatures to gradually drop.
It is likely that the heat warning will be extended to inland areas of Southland on Saturday; However, temperatures will begin to drop near the coast, according to the weather service. Low marine layer clouds over coastal areas may return Friday night and become denser Saturday night.
The weather is expected to become much cooler across the region by Sunday. However, the temperature is expected to remain five to 15 degrees above normal till next week.
