It’s Hot but Not a Record --as Yet : High Temperatures Likely to Continue at Least Until Friday

Tuesday’s soaring temperatures brought a cool smile to Brett Reeves, manager of Orange County Ice Inc. The heat nearly doubled business for the Anaheim ice supply and delivery company.

“We’ve been going bananas today,” said Reeves, who sold between 5 and 6 tons of ice. ‘It’s been great.”

But Reeves was in the clear minority Tuesday as near-record temperatures drove more than 200,000 sun-baked people to Orange County beaches and racked the nerves of utility company officials concerned about meeting increased demand.

Forecasters could offer little relief. Temperatures, which reached 91 degrees in Santa Ana and 88 in El Toro, are expected to remain near record highs at least until Friday.

For Santa Ana, Tuesday marked the 10th day since June on which temperatures have pushed past 90. Last year during the same time period, there were only five days when the mercury hit 90 or more.

Meteorologists blame the latest heat wave on a high-pressure system stuck over Utah. Usually, Santa Ana winds are the culprit when temperatures are high.

“It’s really hot all across the Southwest,” said Rob Kaczmarek, a meteorologist for WeatherData Inc., which tracks the weather for The Times. “Plus, it’s more humid than usual, so people feel the heat a little more.”

Lifeguards from San Clemente to Seal Beach reported low to moderate surf and heavier than usual crowds for a weekday. Frank Crisfield was one of an estimated 85,000 who sought refuge at a beach in Newport Beach.

“When it’s this hot, the only thing to do is to hit the beach,” said the 33-year-old computer salesman. “It feels like a hair dryer is blowing on you.”

Meanwhile, Tuesday’s heat sent demand for electricity soaring but did not overtax the system, according to officials of Southern California Edison. Early-morning cloud cover and voluntary conservation methods helped reduce anticipated demands, officials said.

“We were pretty worried this morning,” said Mille Paul, a spokeswoman for Southern California Edison, whose service area covers 50,000 square miles including most of Orange County. “But it looks like we are not going to set a record today.”

Assuring consumers that they have the power to survive current demands, power company officials nevertheless urged conservation. Officials suggested that consumers avoid using “nonessential” electricity during peak-use hours of 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Also, officials asked that air conditioners be set at 78 degrees or higher and at 85 if no one is home.

The call for conservation came as the Western power grid, which is managed by a consortium known as the Western Systems Coordinating Council, ordered a 25% reduction in the amount of electricity transmitted into California from the Pacific Northwest. Energy officials plan to increase the reduction to 33% today in hope of preventing another blackout on what they call the Pacific Intertie power grid, such as occurred Saturday.

Such power cutbacks won’t have much impact in Southern California. Both Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric Co., which serves a few cities in southern Orange County, have their own generating facilities and purchase small amounts of electricity from the Intertie, officials said.

Times staff writer Bob Pool also contributed to this report.

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Hot Times

Temperatures soared Tuesday but didn’t set any records. Readings for Santa Ana:

Tuesday’s high: 91

Normal high for Aug. 13: 84

Last year: 90

Record high: 100 (1994)

High temperatures around the county:

City / Temperature

Anaheim: 89

Dana Point: 82

El Toro: 88

San Juan Capistrano: 81

Source: WeatherData