Thursday was the hottest Thanksgiving Day ever in Los Angeles and at Newport Beach.
The noon temperature in downtown L.A. hit 91 degrees at the official station, at USC. The previous record, 90, was set on Nov. 23, 1903, National Weather Service meteorologist Rich Thompson said.
In Orange County, one NWS weather gauge at Newport Beach showed 89 degrees at 1 p.m., way past the previous record of 81 set in 2002.
Santa Ana was at 88 at midday, below the 91 degree record set in 1950, NWS meteorologist Greg Martin said.
Forecasters said heat records could also be set Thursday in the San Fernando and Antelope Valleys.
Temperatures ranged about 20 degrees above normal Wednesday, and heat records began falling around midday. Temperatures are expected to drop just a few degrees, but it’ll still be about 20-25 degrees higher than the average in many communities, Thompson said.
Coastal breezes were rare but could be found: the midday temperature at Zuma Beach was 71 degrees, and the water was 61.
Downtown Los Angeles reached 93 degrees Wednesday, breaking the record for the date of 89 degrees, set in 1950. Los Angeles International Airport also broke the 1950 record of 89 degrees by hitting 94 degrees.
Records were also set in Long Beach Wednesday, where the temperature reached 96 and topped the 2015 record of 88.
Burbank reached 95 degrees, breaking the 1950 record of 91; Sandberg hit 76 degrees, breaking the 1995 record of 71; Palmdale reached 81 degrees, barely beating the record of 80 set in 1962.
In Lancaster, a record of 81 degrees was reached Wednesday, breaking the 1962 record of 79.
The unusual temperatures were the result of high pressure aloft combined with weak but warm offshore winds, Thompson said.
Temperatures were expected to begin falling Friday, when highs were predicted be 10 degrees lower than Wednesday in several areas, but still above the norm.
—City News Service