February Gave Us Record Heat Instead of El Nino Rain

February had been expected to be one of the wettest Februaries on record. Instead, it appears to have become the hottest.

At an average high temperature of 77.5, this February was almost two degrees above the previous record set in 1954, according to a Los Angeles Times analysis. However, forecasters expect a break in the heat this week.

Dense fog shrouded much of the Southland today at the start of yet another unusually warm day, but a cooling trend is about to begin.

A dense fog advisory was in effect in Beach cities and metropolitan Los Angeles until 9 a.m. Visibility fell to a quarter-mile or less up to mid-morning, the National Weather Service said in a statement.

"Low visibility due to dense fog will cause very hazardous driving conditions," especially on the Harbor (110) and Long Beach (710) freeways to the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and on the San Diego (405) Freeway, it said.

NWS forecasters advised motorists to reduce speed, avoid tailgating, use only low beams and give themselves extra time to get to their destinations this morning.

Temperatures, meanwhile, are forecast to be high once again.

The NWS forecast sunny weather today -- once the fog dissipates -- and highs of 67 at LAX and in San Clemente; 68 in Laguna Beach; 70 in Avalon; 74 in Long Beach; 77 in downtown L.A., Irvine and Anaheim; 79 in Fullerton; 80 on Mount Wilson; 81 in Mission Viejo, Palmdale and San Gabriel; 83 in Yorba Linda, Lancaster and Burbank; 85 in Pasadena; 90 in Woodland Hills; and 91 in Saugus.

Temperatures will begin a cooling trend Wednesday, falling marginally in some areas -- one degree at LAX -- but by as much as 10 degrees in others, such as Saugus. On Sunday, when temperatures in downtown L.A. will be 12 degrees lower than today, rain is in the forecast, followed by showers on Monday.

City News Service