California heats up by Alex Deakin
Whilst eastern parts of the US continue to be gripped by bitterly cold weather, a number of western states have unusually warm for the time of year. Southern California has seen unseasonable warmth this week, with temperatures in downtown Los Angeles reaching 27C (81F), 10 degrees above the average for this time of year.
The heat has been fuelled by the Santa Ana winds, a characteristic feature of the region through the autumn and winter months. These dry, offshore winds are caused by the build up of pressure over the Great Basin region. The winds can be hot or cold depending on the temperatures in the source region, but are mainly known for the hot, dry weather they can bring at this time of year.
The combination of low relative humidity and the Santa Ana winds has prompted the National Weather Service to issue fire warnings across Los Angeles, where wild fires are common in these conditions.
Temperatures in Los Angeles are set to remain in the high 20s (C) over the weekend, with cooler and more unsettled conditions expected by the middle of next week.
