Hot Weather

Northwesterners more accustomed to rain and a cooler climate sought refuge from a heat wave Wednesday as Seattle recorded the hottest temperature in its history and Portland, Ore., fell just short of its own record. The National Weather Service in Seattle recorded 103 degrees, breaking a previous record of 100, set in 1941 and repeated in 1994. Jay Albrecht, a meteorologist with the weather service, said this is the hottest Seattle has been since 1891.

Along with California's vigorous efforts to crack down on its own greenhouse gas emissions, state officials have begun preparing for the worst: heat waves, a rising sea level, flooding, wildlife die-offs and other expected consequences from what scientists predict will be a dramatic temperature increase by the end of this century. California's Natural Resources Agency on Monday issued the nation's first statewide plan to "adapt" to climate change.

One month after the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power barred residents from watering on days other than Mondays and Thursdays, city officials are looking at loosening the law for the city's parks department and other large landowners.

Much of Southern California had an early spring bake-off Saturday as temperatures soared into the 90s and toppled decades-old weather records. A record high of 91 was recorded at Los Angeles International Airport, breaking the 90 degree record set in 1947. UCLA registered 92 degrees -- breaking a record of 84 degrees set in 1944.

Record-breaking heat in parts of Southern California is expected to continue through the weekend, and it made for uncomfortable conditions Friday as firefighters dealt with two new brush fires. Forecasters say temperatures in the mid-90s and the triple digits will remain until Sunday in some areas such as Woodland Hills and Chatsworth. "There's a monster high-pressure [system] parked over California," said Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

Southern California endured Day 3 of the year's first major heat wave, with temperatures topping 100 degrees in many valley areas Friday. Temperatures will cool slightly today, but Southern California can still expect a hot weekend. Here are some details: -- Were any records set? Yes. The mercury reached 111 degrees in Woodland Hills, beating the previous record set in 1973 by four degrees, and temperatures reached 93 degrees in Oxnard, 10 degrees hotter than the old record, also set in 1973.

The Los Angeles City Council gave preliminary approval Wednesday to restructuring electricity rates for city utility customers during the summer months, reducing rates in high-temperature neighborhoods and adopting a tiered rate system that would punish big energy users and reward conservation. The plan would give price breaks from June through September to customers living in "hot zones" in the San Fernando Valley, on the Eastside and in portions of South Los Angeles.

The weekend football game between UCLA and Fresno State at the Rose Bowl was by no means the hottest on record. But Pasadena fire officials said Monday that nearly 1,000 people sought medical attention for heat-related medical issues -- the most in recent memory. Nearly 74,000 people attended Saturday's game between the Bruins and the Bulldogs, and forecasters said the weather was no hotter than usual for a mid-September football contest.

A February heat wave set records Saturday at Los Angeles International Airport and other spots around the Southland, but forecasters said more seasonal conditions would return today. Saturday's high of 89 in downtown L.A. wasn't a record, but it did tie the high for the date set in 1890, said National Weather Service spokesman Bill Hoffer. The Los Angeles-area records included 87 at the airport, 87 at UCLA and 88 in Long Beach, Hoffer said.

It's still winter, but in Southern California it's feeling more and more like summer. The National Weather Service is forecasting a heat wave over the next three days that will push temperatures into the 90s in some places, probably breaking records. The forecast is the latest twist in a period of unseasonable weather, with the Southland on pace to experience its driest year on record.