Warm temperatures near record levels [UPDATED]
If it feels unusually steamy for a January day, that’s because it is.
Temperatures all across the Southland are flirting with record-high levels this afternoon. That may come as unwelcome news to officials bracing for possible wildfires amid dry Santa Ana gusts. This time of year is usually a rainy, low fire-risk season.
Long Beach reached temperatures as high as 87 degrees, surpassing the previous record of 84 degrees for this time of year, according to Dave Bruno of the National Weather Service. Downtown Los Angeles was at 86 degrees in the early afternoon, just shy of the record-high of 87. Temperatures elsewhere in Southern California were also hovering “very close” to record levels, Bruno said.
Red-flag fire warnings for Los Angeles and Ventura counties were extended until 6 p.m. Tuesday. Officials said the continued high-temperature, low-humidity spell would dry out the hillsides, increasing risk of brush fires. They cautioned against causing the slightest spark, even dragging a chain on the pavement behind a pick-up truck.
UPDATED: The National Weather Service reported that temperatures in downtown L.A. inched up to 88 degrees and 87 degrees in Burbank, setting new records. Santa Ana winds are expected to continue through the weekend. UCLA also recorded a record high (86 degrees), as did Oxnard (86).
-- Victoria Kim
Or as we say in East L.A. "Chili today and hot tamale."
Posted by: Daniel Brosamle | January 12, 2009 at 04:07 PM
what if I drag a chain behind my "low-rider"?
Posted by: monkeyboy | January 12, 2009 at 04:52 PM
I live on the west side, I am in New Jersey where we had a pretty fair amount of snow satyrday that today tyrned to hard ice at under 28 degrees last night, even the salt I put on the driveway isnrt enough to melt it.
Friday we are going to experience single digit temps.
By the way> No surf here.
Posted by: stewart | January 12, 2009 at 04:53 PM
Yeah, a little wacky. We were at the beach yesterday (traffic was horrible). We were there with friends who've recently relocated from Iowa - yes, people still move here from the midwest. They were loving this weather, taking family pics next to the water. Ironically, it's probablly be cold and gloomy by the beach in May and June.
Posted by: David in Los Angeles | January 13, 2009 at 07:00 AM
Supposed to below zero degrees on the Midwest Tue. night. Looks like I'll have to buy some tequila to keep me warm.
Posted by: Doug | January 13, 2009 at 07:01 AM
we need to stop emitting carbon! now!
Posted by: me | January 13, 2009 at 10:26 AM