Heat Wave Declared Over Even as More Records Fall

Los Angeles had a record high temperature for the fourth day in a row Monday, while the National Weather Service continued to insist that the midwinter heat wave is over.

By 3 p.m., the mercury at Los Angeles Civic Center had risen to 86 degrees--topping the old Jan. 13 record of 85, set in 1904--while the Monday morning low of 61 degrees had tied the former record for the highest minimum reading, which was set in 1980.

That also made Los Angeles, officially, the hottest place in the 48 contiguous states--a distinction shared with San Gabriel and Miramar, which also posted maximums of 86. But this mark was topped--unofficially--by Imperial Beach, National City and Poway, where readings of 87 were reported, and by Spring Valley, which recorded 89.

The Weather Service said none of the high temperatures should have happened:

A high-pressure system inland that had kept humidity low, temperatures high and skies clear for most of last week was weakening and moving eastward. Meanwhile a Pacific frontal system edging toward the coast was supposed to bring rain to Northern and Central California while covering the Southland with a blanket of clouds Monday.

But that frontal system--blocked, perhaps, by the high pressure inland that did not seem to drift away or break up quite on schedule--seemed to be moving a bit more slowly than anticipated.

As a result, meteorologists explained, the dry winds from the desert just kept on blowing and relative humidity ranged from a high of 31% shortly before dawn to a dry-as-desert-dust 12% during the afternoon, while the temperature climbed just as it had for the last three days.

Nonetheless, forecasters insisted that the edge of the weather front will pass through Southern California today, trailing considerable cloudiness and--maybe--a few sprinkles here and there.