Los Angeles County experienced record-breaking temperatures on Thursday, with highs reaching 98 degrees in some areas, according to the National Weather Service. The unseasonable heat, which soared 15 to 25 degrees above normal, established new records in Oxnard, Camarillo and tied them in Long Beach.
The heat wave, described as long-lasting and unprecedented in its length and magnitude, is expected to continue into next week, with forecasts indicating potential temperatures of 100 degrees in Los Angeles. Palm Springs could reach 107 degrees, potentially shattering existing records, while Phoenix is also bracing for extreme heat. The National Weather Service warned that heat stress will increase daily, particularly in coastal areas where residents may lack adequate cooling systems.
CBS LA Senior Chief Meteorologist Paul Deanno noted that Los Angeles has only reached 97 degrees twice in the month of March in the past 50 years, stating, “This [would be] hot for summer. It’s March. It’s winter.” A Next Weather Alert remains in effect for Thursday and Friday across Southern California.
Forecasts for the 48-hour period between Thursday and Friday include highs of 98 degrees in Los Angeles, 94 in Thousand Oaks, 92 in Oxnard, 97 in Fillmore, 94 in Santa Clarita, 99 in Canoga Park, 97 in Covina, 97 in Long Beach, 93 in Redondo Beach, 98 in Anaheim, 94 in Irvine, 95 in Ontario, 96 in Riverside, 97 in San Bernardino, 95 in Lake Elsinore, 96 in Temecula, 94 in Hemet, and 83 in San Clemente.
Officials are urging residents, particularly those prone to heat-related illness, to limit strenuous activity. The National Weather Service anticipates that some daily heat records could be broken by as many as three degrees in parts of the region. While a slight reprieve is expected over the weekend, forecasts indicate even warmer temperatures returning next week, with inland communities potentially reaching 100 degrees by Tuesday. The NWS has characterized the heat as “potentially dangerous” and warned of threatened monthly heat records early next week, with confidence growing that temperatures above 95 degrees will occur in inland Orange and San Diego counties.
