In Los Angeles, California, Southern California has experienced extremely hot weather at the beginning of October. Over the past two days, the temperature has been very high for this time of year in most of the area, with temperatures reaching 100 degrees or above on Saturday, October 3, even in places near the coast. Forecasters state that a number of daily records have been broken and that one or two monthly records might have been set as well. In addition, some scattered heat records have been set or come very close to being reached elsewhere in the West, from Nevada and Utah to Colorado, northern California, Oregon and Washington.
Triple Digits Near the Coast
It is no uncommon occurrence in the inland valleys and deserts of Southern California to see temperatures of 100 degrees. The exceptional thing about Saturday was that the heat extended all the way towards the coast, since ocean breezes usually keep the temperatures there much milder.
In the Los Angeles Basin, the Inland Empire, Orange County and certain areas of San Diego County temperatures rose greatly, with a number of places reaching or exceeding triple digits.
Daily Records Fall Across SoCal
On October 3 there was a group of places in Southern California which were either approaching or breaking their daily temperature records, with several stations equaling or exceeding their daily record highs and many others being just 3 degrees short of their records.
A place where a record-breaking temperature was recorded is located in the area near San Diego and close to the Mexican border, which shows how widespread the heat was in that region.
Monthly Records Could Be in Play
In October temperatures typically start to decrease in southern California, and the forecasters state that this heat wave was so intense that one or two monthly records may have been set, which would mean that some places have registered what are their highest ever October temperatures.
Confirmation will be given by the National Weather Service after the data has been reviewed.
Records Also Set Across Nevada and the Great Basin
The heat wasn’t only experienced in California; in northern Nevada at least one place set its daily record high temperature, and in several other places in Nevada and adjacent California the temperature came close to the record.
In parts of Utah and northwestern Arizona the temperatures were only a few degrees below those recorded as being the records.
Colorado Joins the Record Heat
In more eastern areas, various locations in Colorado reached or matched their daily records, such as those in the mountain regions and in the areas near the Front Range; this occurred just a few days after the state had been affected by heavy rain and flooding caused by the remnants of Hurricane Polo.
Northern California and the Pacific Northwest
Near-record temperatures were also recorded in northern California, in areas of the Sacramento Valley and those near the coast, as well as in southern Oregon and eastern Washington.
This is a sharp contrast to what happened in September, when most of the West Coast was either about average or below average while the rest of the country suffered record heat.
Heat Raises Fire Concerns
In early October the risk of wildfires increases throughout Southern California since the vegetation is usually at its driest during that time of year. People should take extra care with anything that could cause a fire, such as outdoor equipment, vehicles parked on dry grass and open burning.
Staying Safe in the Heat
In October, such intense heat can still be dangerous, so it’s important to drink a lot of water, to avoid strenuous activity when it’s at its hottest and to check up on your neighbours who are elderly, on children and on pets. You must never leave anyone in a car even for a short time.
Relief Ahead?
Forecasters anticipate that the temperatures will drop as the situation changes, though warm conditions could still last in some areas of the West since a ridge of high pressure has been forming as the eastern part of the United States cools.
