Triple-Digit Heat to Bake Los Angeles Basin
Scorching heat gripping the Southwest today will send many thermometers in Southern California to or past the century mark, including in downtown Los Angeles.
Today will be just as hot, if not slightly hotter, than Wednesday across the Southwest with a strong ridge of high pressure overhead.
As was the case Wednesday, residents of Southern California will find no heat relief from the Pacific Ocean. With the air continuing to circulate from the deserts to the coast, the cooling effect of the ocean will remain shut off.
That includes the beaches, and also in San Diego, where temperatures today will instead soar into the 80s to around 90. Meanwhile, highs in the 90s and lower 100s are expected throughout the Los Angeles Basin.
Temperatures should top out at 100 degrees in downtown Los Angeles, making today the year's hottest day and the first triple-digit reading since the city set its all-time record high in late September 2010.
Readings in downtown Los Angeles will fall just a few degrees short of today's record high, which is 104 degrees from 1950.
Temperatures in the city tied Wednesday's record high from 1950 when the thermometer soared to 99 degrees.
Santa Barbara, Long Beach and Fullerton are a sampling of the many other locations across Southern California that endured record-breaking heat Wednesday.
Until a cooling trend commences Friday into Saturday, "residents and visitors alike should exercise caution when outdoors in the heat," reported AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Bill Deger.
Stay cool if you have to leave a room with fans or air-conditioning by drinking plenty of water, wearing light clothing and avoiding strenuous activities.
Be sure to check on the elderly and children to make sure these cooling steps are being followed. Also remember that a sealed car can be a death trap, especially for these age groups and pets.
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Daily U.S. Extremes
past 24 hours
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | 107° | Death Valley, CA |
| Low | 28° | Daniel, WY |
| Precip | 3.25" | Buffalo, MN |
WeatherWhys®
People need to pay close attention to the UV index during this time of year. On a sunny day late in the spring and into the summer, the UV is usually at least an 8, which is very high. Readings over 11 are considered extreme values in which only 10 minutes of full exposure to the sun will produce a sunburn.
This Day In Weather History
Oklahoma (1940)
Hail fell to depths of 6-8 inches near Ada. Hail drifted to 5 feet in places with the help of rain runoff.
Northern Texas (1986)
Severe thunderstorms produced 95-mph wind gusts and widespread damage. More than 3 inches of rain fell in less than an hour. A 29-year-old woman and her 6-year-old daughter drowned in their car which was found submerged in an underpass.
Rough Weather
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