los angeles — With spring still a week away, it’s already starting to feel like summer in Southern California, with forecasters predicting unseasonably hot weather, including temperatures in the mid-90s around Los Angeles.
The weather is expected to be about 20 degrees warmer than normal for mid-March on Thursday and Friday, the National Weather Service said. This means that people will be more susceptible to heat illness. Officials urged people to drink plenty of water and avoid outdoor activities during the day.
The winter heat wave comes from a combination of high pressure and a lack of cold winds blowing in from the Pacific Ocean, said Brian Lewis, a meteorologist at the Weather Service’s Los Angeles office.
“The country’s air conditioner, as we like to call it, is basically off right now,” Lewis said Thursday. “We will likely set or break several temperature records throughout Los Angeles County.”
The hottest day around Los Angeles will be Thursday, with temperatures likely to reach 93 degrees (33.8 C) in downtown Los Angeles and 95 degrees (35 C) in the San Fernando Valley. Temperatures are usually around 70 (21°C).
Workers on outdoor construction sites will have plenty of drinking water and electrolyte packs available to stay hydrated. They are told to take frequent breaks, said Junior Pineda, a representative of a local unit of the International Construction Workers’ Union & Allied craftsmen.
“And there are always shade structures, if guys start feeling a little dizzy and need a few minutes,” he said Wednesday.
Los Angeles city and county officials plan to open cooling centers for residents who do not have air conditioning.
Zach Marquez, who uses a wheelchair, was tending to his duties Wednesday before it got too hot in Los Angeles’ Koreatown neighborhood.
“I have to stay hydrated and stay in the shade,” he said.
Meteorologists said Friday’s sea breeze should cool the coast slightly, but inland areas will still be very hot.
Celebrities are flocking to Los Angeles ahead of the Oscars on Sunday, with a host of events this week benefiting from the concentration of stars. But the worst of the weather should be over in time for the party.
The rest of the state will also see hotter than normal weather starting next week. Temperatures could reach 90 (32 degrees Celsius) on Monday around San Francisco and in the Sacramento area.