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Heat advisory issued for the Southland through Super Bowl Sunday
Environment Feb 09, 2022
A heat advisory has been issued for much of the Southland. | Graphic courtesy of NWS LA
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High temperatures and wind delivered a 1-2 punch to parts of the Southland Wednesday, beginning a mini-heat wave expected to continue through Sunday’s Super Bowl.
The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory that will be in place until 6 p.m. Sunday for the L.A. County coast, including downtown Los Angeles, along with the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys, and Orange County inland and coastal areas — with highs up to 90 degrees in some areas.
A wind advisory that had been in effect for the San Fernando Valley and local mountains was allowed to expire at noon, as gusts dropped below advisory levels, but higher winds are expected to kick up again by Wednesday night and Thursday.
Another wind advisory will take effect at 10 p.m. Wednesday and continue to 4 p.m. Thursday for the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys and Los Angeles County Mountains and Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area, where gusts of up to 50 and 55 mph are anticipated. A wind advisory will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday in the coastal area, including downtown Los Angeles, where 20-30 mph winds are in the forecasts, with gusts up to 45 mph, primarily along the Malibu coast.
Forecasters noted that temperatures on Wednesday morning were already 20 or more degrees warmer than they were 24 hours ago in parts of the Southland, but most areas were seeing a 5- to 10-degree increase. They also warned that wind advisories could be extended in the mountains into Thursday, with windy conditions “expected to be stronger and more widespread.”
“A warming trend will continue across the region as high pressure aloft builds in and a persistent offshore flow continues through the weekend,” according to the NWS. “Near record high temperatures are possible during the peak of the heat today (Wednesday) through Friday.”
The unseasonably high temperatures could stretch into Sunday’s Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium between the L.A. Rams and Cincinnati Bengals — potentially making for the warmest kickoff in Super Bowl history. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m.
According to the Southeast Regional Climate Center, the warmest Super Bowl kickoff occurred in 1973 — at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum — when it was 84 degrees.
The current forecast for Sunday calls for temperatures in the mid to upper 80s.
Forecasters warned that “dangerously hot conditions with temperatures up to 90 degrees” are possible in some areas during the heat wave.
“Extreme heat will significantly increase the potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities,” according to the NWS. “… Be prepared to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. This is especially true during warm or hot weather when car interiors can reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.”
