Amid gusty Santa Ana winds, a heat wave gripping the Southland has produced record-breaking temperatures Friday and possibly will through the weekend, National Weather Service forecasters said.
The weather service said the winds resulted from high pressure over the Los Angeles Basin.
The winds brought in desert air at gusts of up to 50 mph in L.A.’s coastal zone, which consists of beach cities, metropolitan Los Angeles and the Hollywood Hills; both the San Gabriel and Santa Monica mountains and the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys.
“Climatically, high pressure brings dry weather,” NWS meteorologist Mark Moede told City News Service.
A ridge of high pressure has remained over Southern California for much of the past four years, a major factor in the drought during that period. according to Moede.
“When (the ridge) has broken down briefly the past couple of months, it has brought some nice rains,” Moede said. “This weekend, it will bring some record temperatures.”
Forecasters said some temperatures in the South Coast Basin may rise as high as 20 degrees above normal.
Daytime highs Saturday and Sunday will range in the 80s to lower 90s at the beaches and the mid-80s to mid-90s in the valleys and foothills, forecasters said, blaming a ridge of high pressure.
The conditions are expected to drive an estimated 750,000 to 1 million people to beaches along the 37 miles of coastline under the watch of county lifeguards between Zuma Beach and Redondo. A similar number of beachgoers could take to the shore from Redondo to San Clemente.
“We are experiencing large crowds and we’ve staffed out towers accordingly, Los Angeles County Fire Department Lifeguard Capt. Kenichi Haskett said.
Given the hot weather and outset of spring break season, more towers will be open than typical for this time of year and seasonal lifeguards also were being deployed earlier than usual, he said.
“The surf is cooperating. It’s not causing significant rip currents,” Haskett said.
Wave heights were two to three feet and the water temperature was a chilly 63 degrees, he said.
NWS forecasters urged residents and visitors to avoid heat stress, including by scheduling outdoor activities in the morning or evening to avoid the day’s strongest heat, wearing light clothing if engaging in strenuous activities, and staying hydrated.
They also urged residents to “never, ever leave children, pets or the elderly alone in the car.”
The NWS expressed concern for people who’ll take part in Sunday’s L.A. Marathon, saying they need to be aware of the potential for serious heat- related problems.
Marathon organizers have announced they will start from Dodger Stadium at 6:55 a.m., 30 minutes earlier than originally scheduled in an effort to beat the heat.
Record temperatures of 92 were reached today in Long Beach and Santa Ana, breaking the 89 both cities had in 1994. There may be more by the time all locales final temperatures are registered today, according to Moede.
Highs are expected to rise some on Saturday, begin a slow downward trend on Sunday, and generally revert to the 70s starting Tuesday.
—City News Service