LOS ANGELES, CA – Downtown Los Angeles reached 101 degrees Tuesday, its fifth consecutive day of 100 degrees or higher, while an extreme heat warning and a coastal flood advisory remained in effect for parts of Los Angeles County, according to the National Weather Service.
The reading came Tuesday, Oct. 6, and was 21 degrees above normal for the time of year. The National Weather Service said five straight days at 100 degrees or more is the longest such stretch at any time of year for downtown Los Angeles.
The extreme heat warning for the Los Angeles County coast and valleys was set to run through 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8. A coastal flood advisory for county beaches began at 6 a.m. Wednesday, driven by swells from Hurricane Rachel.
Cooler weather was forecast from Saturday, with showers possible Sunday.
Downtown posts fifth straight 100-degree day
Downtown Los Angeles hit 102 degrees Monday, Oct. 5, the fourth straight triple-digit day, according to initial reports. Tuesday’s 101 degrees extended the streak to five.
Los Angeles International Airport reached 94 degrees Tuesday, 19 degrees above normal. Even with the sea breeze, areas near the coast did not escape the heat.
The National Weather Service said temperatures during the heat event would reach between 90 and 100 degrees along the coast and up to 106 degrees in the valleys. Some areas right at the coast could see 1 to 5 degrees of cooling from the sea breeze.
Burbank sets daily records
Burbank also reached 101 degrees Tuesday, breaking the previous daily record of 100 degrees set in 1964.
The heat continued Wednesday. A National Weather Service record event report issued at 1:21 a.m. Thursday says a record high of 99 degrees was set at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank on Oct. 7, breaking the old record of 98 degrees set in 1948.
Extreme heat warning could be extended
The National Weather Service issued the warning for Friday, Oct. 2, through Thursday, Oct. 8, according to a Los Angeles County Department of Public Health news release. The areas covered include Catalina, the Santa Clarita Valley, the Malibu Coast, Los Angeles County beaches and the San Fernando Valley.
Forecasters said the warning, which also covers coastal and inland Orange County, could be extended beyond 8 p.m. Thursday.
High pressure was expected to weaken Friday, bringing more pronounced cooling Saturday.
Public Health urges residents to stay cool
The Department of Public Health urged residents to stay hydrated, avoid outdoor activity during peak heat, never leave children or pets in vehicles and check on vulnerable people. It also asked residents to check conditions in their own neighborhoods using the National Weather Service HeatRisk map.
Los Angeles County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis said that “heat causes more deaths in the U.S. annually than floods, storms, and lightning combined.”
Residents can find a county cooling center by calling 211, which Ready LA County says is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The page also offers emergency preparedness information.
City opens extended-hours cooling centers
Mayor Karen Bass said the City of Los Angeles opened augmented cooling centers with extended hours during the warning period.
The city said hundreds of free facilities, including recreation centers and library branches, offered relief from the heat. Residents can get information by calling 3-1-1.
Coastal flood advisory tied to Hurricane Rachel
The coastal flood advisory covers Los Angeles County beaches. It warns of minor to locally moderate coastal flooding, elevated surf and dangerous rip currents, with surf of about 3 to 5 feet and a high rip current risk.
The Weather Service said high tides were forecast at 6.5 to 7 feet through Thursday. Beachgoers were advised to check posted warnings and stay close to a lifeguard, because even strong swimmers can be caught in a rip current.
The Weather Service reissued the advisory at 1:10 p.m. Thursday, extending it through 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13. The greatest flooding risk is Sunday morning, when the high tide is forecast at around 7.5 feet.
Long Beach opens more sandbag sites
The City of Long Beach opened four more sandbag sites at 10 a.m. Thursday, at Fire Stations 7, 12, 13 and 14. They are available through Tuesday to residents with identification, with a limit of 10 bags per person.
The Claremont Beach lot at 5400 E. Ocean Blvd. is also open for sandbags.
City officials said the Alamitos Peninsula and Alamitos Bay are the areas most vulnerable to shallow flooding and beach erosion.
Cooler weather and showers forecast this weekend
Forecasters said light rain could begin Saturday morning, with better chances Saturday night into Sunday and rain possible through Monday. Showers on Sunday were expected mainly in Los Angeles County.
The extreme heat warning remains scheduled to expire at 8 p.m. Thursday, unless the Weather Service extends it. The coastal flood advisory now runs through 2 p.m. Tuesday.
