According to AccuWeather experts, record lows in Southern California and the rest of the Southwest may be challenged this weekend as a chilly and wet pattern takes over the region.
In the wake of the potentially historic cold snap, experts wonder how low temperatures might have dropped 140 years ago if the same atmospheric setup had been in place.
An AccuWeather forecaster termed the forthcoming chill "startling for some" in the aftermath of recent above-average temperatures and record warmth.
Low Temperatures Across Southern California
AccuWeather Meteorologist Mary Gilbert says that while February was a little cooler than typical in downtown Los Angeles, March is off to a warmer start with highs reaching at least 80 on the first two days of the month.
Temperatures in Southern California are anticipated to fall considerably below average as a cold front sweeps in from the north. According to Adamson, temperatures in Downtown Los Angeles could fall to record lows on both nights this weekend.
AccuWeather predicts a low of 41 degrees Fahrenheit in Los Angeles on Saturday night, which is within striking distance of the lowest temperature ever recorded on this date in 1882, when it was 39 degrees.
On Sunday night, temperatures could fall as low as 40 degrees, which would match the record low for that date set in 1893.
High temperatures in Los Angeles reached the lower 80s in late February and early March, while other parts of California set new records for high temperatures. This would be a 40-degree temperature drop, as per AccuWeather.
Also Read: Low Temperatures and Rain Can Help Battle California Wildfires
Potential for Near-record Temperature
It would be an understatement to say that a lot has changed since the late 1800s, when these record lows were initially recorded in the weather records.
There were 3.9 million people living in the downtown area in the 2020 U.S. census, a 78-fold growth since the population of roughly 50,000 people in 1890.
Since the late 1800s, the number of buildings, streets, walkways, and automobiles, all of which contribute to higher temperatures in urban heat islands, has grown significantly in Southern California, according to UPI.
If the current atmospheric conditions had been in place in early March of 1882 or 1893, the record lows for these days may have been even lower and much further out of reach than currently forecasted this weekend, forecasters warn.
It will be cooler than typical outside of Los Angeles, according to AccuWeather's meteorologists, but temperatures will still be approaching record levels. Temperatures are expected to be 5-15 degrees lower than normal over the region, including in the desert regions.
High Temperatures Expected in Some Areas
Over the weekend, temperatures in Palm Springs, California, are expected to rise into the mid-60s and lower 70s, a significant drop from the record-breaking high of 93 degrees on March 1.
In Phoenix, further east, highs are expected to fall into the lower 60s by Sunday, a drop of almost 10 degrees below the usual 75-degree temperature there.
Fortunately, locals may look forward to some warmth soon, according to weather experts. By early next week, Southern California could see a return to normal temperatures, but it may be a few more days before the frost fades to the eastward.
As a result of the cooler and wetter weather conditions, concerns about wildfires in the region should be alleviated for the time being. The Jim Fire, which is burning in the Santa Ana Mountains, southeast of Los Angeles, is 60% contained as of Friday evening, while it continues to spread.
Related Article: Cold Weather Expected in Central US After a Winter Storm
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