LOS ANGELES (AP) - Southern California’s midwinter heat wave broke or tied more temperature records Monday as gusty Santa Ana winds and low humidity levels elevated fire danger while bringing summerlike conditions to beaches.
The National Weather Service said Long Beach Airport reached 91 degrees, toppling the 1992 record of 83 for the date.
Other records also fell for a second day as unseasonable heat baked the region under the influence of high pressure that spawned powerful, dry and warm winds blowing offshore.
Firefighters were on alert throughout the weekend as critical fire weather conditions developed.
Shortly after 3 a.m., Los Angeles County firefighters responded to brush fire that threatened structures in Malibu.
Evacuations were quickly ordered in the area before the blaze was contained to about 2.5 acres (1 hectare). The cause of the fire remained under investigation.
Winds, however, were fading and meteorologists said a red flag warning for fire danger would be called off Monday evening.
Daytime temperatures were forecast to moderate through the week but still remain 8 degrees to 12 degrees above normal. That was expected to carry over into nighttime.
“The winds will greatly diminish but the air will remain dry which will allow for very efficient and dramatic cooling,” the weather service said.
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