LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Summer-like temperatures once again will intrude into winter today, with highs as lofty as the mid 80s again expected in some Southland communities.
Woodland Hills reached a high of 88 degrees Thursday, breaking the record for a December 27 -- 86 degrees, set in 1963, according to the National Weather Service. It was the second day a record was broken in Woodland Hills, where today's high was forecast to be 85.
The NWS had expected Woodland Hills to be the hottest spot in the nation Thursday, but that distinction ended up applying to Lake Elsinore in Riverside County which hit a high of 89.
With much of the nation under a deep freeze, there's a 90 percent chance that the nation's highest temperatures today once again will be in the Southland, said NWS meteorologist Rich Thompson.
A record was also reached near the Antelope Valley in Sandberg, which hit 70 degrees Thursday, breaking the 2013 record for the date of 69 degrees.
Forecasters said the elevated temperatures are the result of an upper- level high pressure system combined with weak offshore winds -- forecasters do not regard them as Santa Anas -- giving us temperatures generally 10 to 12 degrees above normal.
``Near record heat is expected for some areas by Friday as high pressure builds overhead,'' according to a NWS statement. ``Cooler conditions are likely this weekend with increasing cloud cover ahead of an approaching trough of low pressure. Rain is possible by the middle of next week as the trough possibly pushes into the West Coast.''
Conditions are expected to be ideal for the Rose Bowl and Rose Parade on Monday in Pasadena. The city is forecast to have a high of 74 under partly cloudy skies on Monday. Since 1890, it has rained on the Rose Parade only 10 times -- in 2006, 1955, 1937, 1934, 1922, 1916, 1910, 1906, 1899 and 1895, according to the NWS.
L.A. County temperatures are forecast to decline marginally today compared to Thursday, more sharply on Saturday, then remain mostly in the low to mid 70s through Wednesday.
The NWS forecast sunny weather in L-A County today and highs of 72 in Palmdale and Lancaster; 73 on Mount Wilson; 74 in Avalon; 78 at LAX; 80 in Saugus, Long Beach and downtown L-A; 84 in Pasadena, San Gabriel and Burbank; and 87 in Woodland Hills.
The NWS forecast sunny skies in Orange County today, along with highs of 68 in San Clemente; 69 in Laguna Beach; 71 in Newport Beach; 79 in Anaheim, Irvine and Fullerton; 80 in Mission Viejo; and 81 in Yorba Linda. Orange County temperatures will decline by a few degrees Saturday and again Sunday, then remain in the high 60s and low 70s at least through Thursday, including on New Year's Day.