Heat makes its mark around the Southland
A February heat wave set records Saturday at Los Angeles International Airport and other spots around the Southland, but forecasters said more seasonal conditions would return today.
Saturday’s high of 89 in downtown L.A. wasn’t a record, but it did tie the high for the date set in 1890, said National Weather Service spokesman Bill Hoffer.
The Los Angeles-area records included 87 at the airport, 87 at UCLA and 88 in Long Beach, Hoffer said. Other records were set in Camarillo (87) and Paso Robles (82).
Officials said thousands of people headed for the beaches Saturday.
“We had a lot of activity on the bike path and a lot of roller-bladers but not too many in the water,” said Los Angeles County ocean lifeguard specialist Jaro Snopek at Santa Monica Beach. The water temperature of 58 was “still pretty cold for the general public,” he said.
Today is expected to be considerably cooler, with a high of 70 in downtown Los Angeles and a 40% chance of showers overnight. For the Presidents Day holiday Monday, forecasters were predicting a high of 62 and a 50% chance of showers.
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