113 degrees in downtown? L.A. broils with triple-digit temperatures [Updated]

 
The heat wave that has gripped Southern California reached a high point Monday afternoon, with triple-digit temperatures from the coast all the way inland.

As of noon, Weather.com reported that downtown L.A. was broiling at 109 degrees; Santa Monica hit 106, West Hollywood was at 111 and Long Beach was at 107. [Updated: As of 12:50 p.m.: downtown L.A. had hit 113 degrees, a record high. Stuart Seto, a forecaster for the National Weather Service, said that's the hottest temperature recorded at the downtown station since record-keeping began in 1877.

Shortly after reaching the record, the temperature dipped back to 111, and then climbed back to 112. Then at 1 p.m., the thermometer stopped working.

The weather service office in Oxnard rushed an electronics technician 60 miles southeast to the USC campus to repair the thermometer, which is actually a highly sensitive wire connected to electronic equipment. Because of the snafu, officials said it's possible Monday's temperature actually was hotter than 113 — but they might never know.]

The National Weather Service warned of extreme heat and red-flag fire dangers Monday. A small fire broke out in Ladera Heights but was quickly put out. Another small brush fire was contained Sunday night in South Pasadena. 

On the energy front, California consumers are expected to use more than 45,000 megawatts by peak afternoon hours, said Gregg Fishman, a spokesman for Cal-ISO, which coordinates power for 85% of the state's grid. 

Though the expected energy consumption is high for this time of year, increased usage is not expected to cause any serious problems, Fishman said. Still, Cal-ISO is recommending residents avoid using heavy appliances in the afternoon.

And don't forget to turn off the lights when you leave a room, Fishman said.

"Given the situation as we know it right now, we should be fine,'' he said. "But grid conditions are dynamic, and things can change."

-- Kimi Yoshino and Catherine Saillant

[Updated at 12:34 p.m.: HOW ARE YOU COPING WITH THE HEAT? Share your photographs from the heat wave with L.A. Now. We'll post reader submissions. Tell us your hot weather tales below.]

Comments

[Bob Veronese]

I had my roof painted with Solar-flex paint(from Home Depot) in Aug., on 100 degree day my house went from 73 to 77 all day without the A/C on!!! The best investment I ever made.

[PeteM]

Got the ceiling fans going on medium, house is cool and my pets are happy!

[slyfox997]

55 degrees in southern alaska hehe put a jacket on for u other folks, shorts and tshirts for us!=P

[Scott Zwartz]

Let's remember our military in Iraq! 120 degrees day after day, no trees, no power for a/c (thanks to corrupt Cheney, Baghdad has virtually no regular power).

When the war started, we could send a/c to Iraq because it had power to run a/c units. Civilians sent the a/c because the civilians overseers of the Pentagon wouldn't pay for a/c units, but without any power, that citizen lead program is probably defunct.

[Spongebob]

Hey LA, quit your whining. The Weather Channel shows the temp at 112 right now, but it FEELS like 106. Try dealing with sweltering southeast summers, where the temp is in the 90s and the humidity is above 80% and the heat index is above 110. Dry clothing is a dream then...

[vanessa]

I feel like im walking inside an Oven. A super duper HOT Oven! Oh and im here in Westwood by UCLA.

[almxx]

pretty soon we will have evidence that NOBODY can deny. It will be like realizing that you are dying.

[Do boo]

> How many wind turbines does it take to generate 45,000 megawatts?

Probably more than all the wind turbines, hydroelectric dams and solar panels ever made. But it's the wrong question... the right question is, what are we doing that needs 45 gigawatts? that couldn't be done with, say, 10 gigawatts?

[Big_Bear]

Insane!! That must mean PV was triple digits, given the temps at Long Beach. Unheard of. But...considering how cool it was all summer long, it evens out, right?

[Steve]

Mt. Washington hit 114 at 12 Noon.

[Cereakbox]

Most of you are missing the point. "L.A. had hit 113 degrees, a record high" That isnt normal in LA. That tells you something. Im sure its hotter in other cities but not LA. This doesnt happen all the time.

[Dee]

Good grief. We get SantAnas/heatwaves every year. It's called weather. It's hotter than this in Afghanistan every summer. Quit whining, you never even had a hot July or August. Be grateful.

[neminem]

Yeah, it's great how I was in Phoenix a week ago, where the temperature was just ugly. Was so glad to be back in LA, where temperatures are more reasonable... then this. (I thought our AC at work was broken, but no, it just can't up with outside.)

[Kenny Cross]

Well it's nice of Summer to finally show up. Seriously though anyone who has lived in SoCal for the last 40 years remembers the post-summer heat waves. Of course we no longer get those fun tropical storms during the summer like we used to when it'd be overcast, drizzly, and in the mid-80's. Ah the old days of 100+ degree heat in the first week of July. Now it's June-July Gloom.

So beach party like it's 1979!

[Ryan]

Of course it's global warming, or climate change. What else could it be? Another 100 year cycle? Please! Record shattering temperatures, both hot and cold around the globe are happening daily." Oh, but D.C. a few months had record snow". Exactly people, climate change brings about strange wheather patterns, extreme cold, heat, and just check out the coral reefs around the world. 95% of all scientist agree on this matter, only the few "quack" right winger's say NO to global warming due to politically reason's, ex: oil companies. The same individuals that represent the BP oil spill. People, it is time to grow up and get with it. IT IS A FACT! DEAL WITH IT.

[Jayson]

Global Warming. it's gonna kill us all.

[manbearpig]

hey L.A people, try living in the San Bernardino/ Palm Springs area. it was 10 degrees more hotter

[USMC E-5]

we are spoiled!!! Iraq got up to 130 with bullets coming down range....

[H. M.]

C. McKensie asked how many wind turbines it takes to generate 45,000 MW. A typical large wind turbine will generate anywhere from 1-2 MW. Best case scenario, it would take 22,500 2-MW turbines to produce that much electricity. Compare that generation with a nuclear plant, which can easily produce 1,300 MW on a single core. Additionally, since the wind doesn't always blow, and electricity demands vary throughout the course of the day, wind turbines are not a reliable (ie constant capacity) source of electricity. I'm not really advocating the abandonment or all out use of any energy source, but rather would like to point out that whatever strategy mankind uses to meet its electricity demands in the future will necessarily use a BLENDED approach. No single source of electricity will solve all the worlds problems, unless maybe someone can figure out fusion.

[amazingaro]

it sounds like bicycle riding weather. or walking twenty miles in the desert,at least 10. yuma,arizona, where the sun almost never stops shinning.(years ago there was a sign in a hotel in yuma,az, "free room and board,everyday the sun doesn.t shine in yuma"

[trw]

Vote yes on 23.

No on 23 = 9$+ for a gallon of gasoline.

[jim]

All the cocaine in LA just melted - how will Hollywood survive?

[cheryl]

Feels great here in Oklahoma - a balmy 71 degrees.

[lwps]

What moron chooses the hotesst day ever to spount global warming denial?

[DarkStarAz]

Hey LA - Welcome To Arizona!