Record heat returns to Southern California after fall-like conditions
The last time the mercury hit that mark, back in 2013, was last Thanksgiving. As of Saturday morning, Nov. 23, the mercury has topped 81 degrees, which would be only the second time the mercury dipped below the 90-degree mark.
As of 6 p.m. the day before, Oct. 30, 2018, the mercury was about 20 degrees above average (85-90.) The last time the mercury dropped that low was back in January 2013, which was only 10 degrees above average, when the city was hit with the worst heat wave ever to hit the area. The mercury rose to about 83 degrees, and then climbed a dozen degrees higher to 85 degrees the next day.
As of Sunday night, Oct. 31, it was at 95 degrees.
“We’re not sure what we’re going to have next week, but we are still not in the heat wave situation,” said Patrick McDonough, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
The heat is now at its highest level since June, and the heat wave has stretched into next weekend, according to NOAA. The heat wave is expected to last into early December, McDonough said.
The heat wave brought severe weather to Southern California, including some of the fiercest wildfires in recorded history, as well as heavy rain that could bring more fires to the region later on this week. Firefighters are battling over a dozen blazes that have burned across more than 13,000 acres in Santa Barbara County, according to CBS Los Angeles.
The area will likely continue receiving severe storms, with a combination of rain, strong winds and heat this week. The storms are expected to move out to sea next weekend.
The Los Angeles area is facing one of its worst heat waves with the mercury rising to more than 90 degrees (89 in places and 99 in the valley,) according to the National Weather Service in Los Angeles