Fire-battered Los Angeles prepares for a weather whiplash
Southern California's latest weather deluge may be on its way – a hot spell that could drive temperatures into the low 90s before plummeting as the region reels from wildfires and toxic runoff.
And then there are lingering concerns the Santa Ana winds might kick up and turn a new brush fire into an inferno.
Downtown Los Angeles figures to reach a near-record 86 degrees Wednesday – nearly 20 above the average for the date – said senior meteorologist Dave Houk of Accuweather. The outlet predicts a high of 67 by Sunday.
Similarly, San Diego’s high temperatures are projected to dip from 83 degrees Thursday to 62 Sunday.
Other parts of Southern California farther from the coast are expected to approach daily records as the mercury rises to the low 90s Wednesday and possibly Thursday – the result of a high-pressure system over the region. But then it figures to give way to weak storms that will send temperatures down.
“The bigger story is a pattern change coming Friday into Saturday,’’ Houk said. “It is going to be a noticeable cooldown.’’
Fire weather not as big a concern now
The whiplash weather comes on the heels of the L.A. County fires that killed 29 people and destroyed more than 16,000 structures in January. The blazes were fueled by powerful winds and a parched landscape caused by a nine-month drought.
The National Weather Service said moderate Santa Ana winds from the mountains are in store for the next couple of days, but they don’t present a major wildfire threat because they’re milder. The region also received a much-needed soaking two weeks ago.
The elements of critical fire weather – dry brush, high winds and low relative humidity – are not present now. Forecasts actually point to the possibility of rain Sunday and/or Monday, though the weather service said it would likely be less than half an inch.
Houk explained the weather variations Southern California is experiencing this week are a part of a trend observed across the U.S., most of which can expect high temperatures above the norm for the next few days, according to the NWS. Last week, about 70% of the country confronted below-freezing conditions.
“This time of year those changes can be pretty abrupt, but we seem to be seeing one side of the coin and then the other,’’ Houk said. “This is one of those patterns where the extremes just are a little bit skewed from what they typically were. The weather changes are more amplified and can last longer.’’
Hot and dry spring training in Phoenix
In the Phoenix area, where half the Major League Baseball teams hold spring training, players and fans are contending with temperatures more expected in the summer than before the end of February.
The NWS office in Phoenix encouraged residents and visitors to “practice smart heat safety and stay hydrated’’ as the city and some lower desert areas are forecast to approach 90 degrees Wednesday and hit mid 80s through Friday.
Parts of the Southwest are also grappling with a six-month drought covering central and western Arizona in addition to southeast California. Five Arizona counties, including Maricopa – home to Phoenix – are in extreme drought conditions.