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SoCal Boils: Mid-March Heat Wave Shatters Records
12 Mar
Summary
- Southern California is experiencing unseasonably hot weather, 20 degrees above normal.
- Temperatures could reach 95 degrees Fahrenheit, increasing heat illness risk.
- Cooling centers will open for residents without air conditioning.
Southern California is currently experiencing a severe heatwave, despite it being technically winter. Temperatures are forecast to be approximately 20 degrees Fahrenheit above the seasonal average for mid-March, with downtown Los Angeles potentially reaching 93 degrees Fahrenheit. This unusual warmth elevates the risk of heat illness, and meteorologists caution that records may be broken, particularly on Thursday, with the San Fernando Valley possibly seeing temperatures as high as 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
Officials are implementing measures to combat the heat. Outdoor workers will have access to ample water and electrolyte packets, along with scheduled breaks and shade structures. Cooling centers are being opened across Los Angeles city and county to provide relief for residents lacking air conditioning. While a sea breeze is expected to offer some respite along the coast on Friday, inland areas will continue to swelter. The rest of California will also experience hotter-than-normal weather starting next week, with potential highs above 90 degrees Fahrenheit in San Francisco and Sacramento.
