Socal braces for unprecedented march heatwave

A prolonged heatwave is poised to shatter temperature records across Southern California, beginning Thursday. Forecasters predict a dramatic 10 to 15-degree temperature surge, potentially ushering in one of the region's longest winter heat spells on record.

Unseasonable temperatures expected to spike

CBS LA Senior Chief Meteorologist Paul Deanno warns that Los Angeles has only experienced 97-degree days twice in March over the past five decades. “This would be hot for summer,” Deanno stated. “It's March. It's winter.” The National Weather Service has issued a Next Weather Alert for Thursday and Friday due to the extreme, unseasonal heat.

Coastal areas could approach 90 degrees Thursday, with that likelihood increasing on Friday. High-temperature forecasts for the 48-hour period include Los Angeles at 98 degrees, Thousand Oaks at 94, and Oxnard at 92. Inland communities face even more extreme conditions, with Riverside and San Bernardino potentially reaching 96 and 97 degrees, respectively. Lake Elsinore and Temecula are forecast to hit 95 degrees.

The NWS recommends limiting strenuous outdoor activity during the heatwave. Relief is anticipated over the weekend, but the forecast for next week suggests even more intense heat, with inland areas potentially reaching 100 degrees by Tuesday. The NWS has issued a warning about potentially dangerous heat levels early next week.

Confidence is growing that temperatures north of 95 degrees will occur in Orange and San Diego counties, with near certainty in the Inland Empire. The sheer intensity of this heat will strain infrastructure and resources. The numbers speak for themselves: a near-certainty of record-breaking temperatures.