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

[Htos1]

Yeah Sarge,bit's it a dry heat! :)

[krusatyr]

Eat cold watermelon under a ceiling fan, which will eventually cool your skull.

[Tony]

Here in Hilo, Hawaii, the temp is a nice balmy 84 degrees, average humidity and a gentle trade wind to keep things cool as the coconut palms and orchids sway in the breeze, The wahinies are at the beach as the sea turtle and dolophins come to shore for a visit with their human friends. After spending most of the last 43 yers in the LA area, I am enjoying life away from the 405 and the 110, raining watering the forest and keeping things clean and fresh, and most imortantly of all....the wonderful aloha spirit of the people living here. Do I miss LA? Yup...every chance I get.

[almxx]

The best way to cope with the heat is to stay cool. Just wait till winter, when we will have no global warming.

[this guy]

this is just the weather we were supposed to have a few months ago. It barely got hot here all summer.

[joemam]

Come to AZ is only 116 today.

[TroyHolmes]

Yeah, it was a record cool summer here in L A, and now we have two hot days and the global warming morons are out in force again.....

Please....

And let's face it....do you really believe the numbers that are being reported anyway?

They always over report the heat and then make up the fake Heat Index so even though the temperature isn't any hotter than its ever been before, add the humidity and make up some bogus new record.....

Yeah, its hot...so what.....turn up the AC that isn't being powered by solar and wind power...and likely never will be either.....

[AK]

I dont mind the heat so long as it cools off at night so I can sleep. Drink plenty of water people

[Tre GIbbs]

I see the Al Gore bashers are in their full, stupid force in the comment section.

[Auntie Sammie]

You progressives are the biggest egotists! Why do you think that you're so important that you're bigger than the earth and that you can control Mother Nature? Get a clue, weirdos. You are an insignificant blip in the universe. In the grand scheme of things, you are only important to God and you would rather worship the religion of ecofreakism than the Lord.

I just think you're getting your due. He's preparing you for hell for destroying this entire country with your ridiculous views.

I say let the men marry the men of their choice. Let the women marry the women of their choice. Let those that want to abort their babies abort their babies. The reward will be that in three generations, all you progressive freaks will go away.

[Gary Bailey]

Is the heat the reason the ants came inside. I wonder if the heat had anything to do with the ants in and around Quail Valley. Everyone I talk to has trouble with ants ...

[Aurora Taylor]

"You in So. Cal. are a bunch of lightweights. Come and spend a summer in Bakersfield. Then you can complain"

Shut up, we aren't USED to the heat like you are. If we were, then there would be less complaints. It is never this hot..

[Gator]

Dateline Sept 22nd 2010

LOS ANGELES — No need to root around the closet for sweaters and jackets: Californians never really put them away this year.
"The invisible summer, seamless from spring to fall," said Bill Patzert, a scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory who studies the role of oceans in the global climate.

In Los Angeles, the last full day of summer passed Tuesday under the gloom of a deep marine layer — the low clouds and fog that put a damper on many beach excursions and made a dip in the surf bracing.

"The ocean never warmed," Patzert said.

Quitcherbitchin!

[Rui de Castro]

OMG. I hopw you don't get a quake. Lisbon is cool now. Going to bed at this end.
<3
Rui

[Kristian]

Well I guess better late than never! The summer's been quite cool and "gloomy". It's about time some warm weather came.

As I'm originally from Sacramento, I grew up with the heat. Hey LA - try 3 months of it!

[Geepa]

Bush did it.

[Killer B]

Is it ANY wonder that the "City of Angel's" is the exact opposite?

This city as well as San Fransisco will be the 1st to burn in HELL
for their inhabitants way of life... AMEN

Turn away from Satan and see what JESUS has already accomplished for you & I... Laugh @ me if you wish. The joke WILL be on you in the end, trust me... AMEN

[Chikie222]

Just remember the weather is G.W.Bush's fault. Say differently and you are lying.....

[From New England]

Ya, but it's a dry heat.

[joe]

try kuwait in the summer.......or iraq....the kingdom is far hotter though

[AirFiero]

Global warming? Riiiight. Try the "urban heat island" effect. More concrete, asphalt and buildings, and less vegetation, means higher localized temperatures.

[Dutch]

Good, I hope those California Libs croke from heat stroke.

[jnsesq]

I guess this means it's back to "global warming" from "global climate disruption." It's so confusing trying to keep up with phony science...

End Obammunism in November. Vote Republican in 2010 and then throw them out in 2012 if they STILL don't get it!

----

War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength. Democrats are Patriots.

[boochie]

The temperature gauge in my car read 101 degrees in Pasadena on the 210 freeway at 3:00pm today. By the time I was driving through Glendale on the 134 it read 113 degrees then 114 and finally 115 degrees at Pacific Avenue. By the time I excited at Forest Lawn Drive a few miles away it was a cool 107.

[KalmVsKhaos]

The Time is NOW!!! It is Time to impeach OmgBama Today! Not Tomorrow! He has turned American into a Third World country! He is siding with the Commies, He is weak as water! America can no longer sit idle with this buffoon-in-chief in office! Keep sleeping America, Already China is only 1-5 years away from taking America's title of being a SUPERPOWER!!!