Fall is the new summer in LA
After a summer of below average temperatures, the region is baking in a heat wave as September draws to a close.
Downtown Los Angeles recorded an all-time record high of 113 degrees Monday as a heat wave continues to bake California, according to the National Weather Service.
Weather forecaster Stuart Seto says the record high was reached about 12:15 p.m. Monday. The old record was 112 degrees on June 26, 1990.
Records have been kept since 1877.
But was it even warmer than 113? The LA Times reported that the National Weather Service thermometer in downtown LA broke after spiking at 113.
According to the Times:
The weather service office in Oxnard rushed an electronics technician 60 miles southeast to the USC campus to repair the thermometer, which is actually a highly sensitive wire connected to electronic equipment. Because of the snafu, officials said it's possible Monday's temperature actually was hotter than 113 — but they might never know.
Relief from the heat downtown will arrive Tuesday -- if you call 101 degrees a cool-off.
The forecast calls for highs Tuesday from the upper 70s to mid-80s at the beaches and 95 to 102 inland. In the mountains, highs were expected to be from 97 to 102 at lower elevations to mid-80s to lower 90s at higher elevations.
For thousands of residents, the day started without electricity. An overloaded transformer led to outages on Hayworth Street in North Hollywood.
The LA Times reported that the LADWP recorded the highest-ever customer demand for electricity Monday. By 3:45 p.m., the DWP recorded a peak demand of 6,177 megawatts. The previous mark was 6,165 megawatts in July 2006.
California has been in the grip of a heat wave since high pressure built over the West late last week.
On Monday, Long Beach tied its high temperature of 111 degrees at 12:09 p.m., Seto said. That record was set on Oct. 15, 1961.
Even beach cities were sweltering in temperatures over 100 degrees.
Some cities have opened "cooling centers" to give residents a place to cool off. Such centers are available in areas including North Hollywood, Panorama City, Sunland, Sylmar, Sherman Oaks, Northridge and Burbank.
Looking for more ways to cool off? Check out our favorite picks: "Get Cold, LA."
