Southern California experiences hottest weather of year so far
On Saturday, a brief taste of summer sent temperatures soaring to the highest levels yet this year in Southern California.
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Downtown Los Angeles and the surrounding areas of Southern California experienced a taste of late summer instead of late spring this past weekend, AccuWeather forecasters say.
The same pattern responsible for bringing a surge of summerlike weather to the North Central states boosted temperatures across California but for a shorter period of time. Highs were 15-30 degrees Fahrenheit above historical averages through Sunday.
Temperatures in downtown Los Angeles peaked at 99 F late Saturday, making it the hottest day of the year so far, and it smashed the previous daily record of 95 degrees set in 1934. The average first 90-degree day is May 9.
Burbank, California, also eclipsed the century mark at the start of the weekend with a high temperature of 101, breaking the daily record of 95 set in 1981. Palm Springs, California, a typical hot spot with a historical average high in the lower 90s at this time of the year, fell just short of the 110 mark.
Even though temperatures trended downward a bit on Mother's Day, they were still 10-20 degrees above average with no significant marine influence. That meant more sunshine and warmth for the beaches.
A very slight sea breeze kept temperatures lower than areas farther inland, AccuWeather Meteorologist Gwen Fieweger noted, allowing for coastal areas to beat the heat.
The sizzling conditions extended northward into California's Central Valley, with Fresno also getting a taste of near-record high temperatures on Saturday.
The cooling trend that occurred on Sunday will gain momentum and intensity by early this week.
"Starting Monday, a more notable cooldown will take place," Fieweger said. Temperatures throughout Central and Southern California will return to levels more typical of the middle of May, then drop more by Tuesday to readings 5-10 degrees below the historical average.
A typical high for downtown L.A. during the middle of May is about 75 degrees.
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