L.A. Feels the Heat for 2nd Day; Ocean Air to Bring Some Relief

A heat wave that scorched the area for a second day Sunday is expected to ease today as clouds move in from the ocean, forecasters said.

A high-pressure system and moisture being pumped into the area by storms stalled in the Pacific combined to turn up the heat across Southern California, said meteorologist Steve Burback of WeatherData Inc., which provides forecasts for The Times.

In inland areas, residents roasted as the mercury climbed above the century mark. Van Nuys recorded a high of 107 degrees. Newhall reached 105 degrees and Northridge topped out at 102.

The Civic Center downtown recorded a high of only 87 degrees, but humidity reached a wilting 89%. The air was even soggier at Los Angeles International Airport, where the humidity reached 93%.

“High pressure forces air toward the ground, and it heats the air as it descends,” Burback said. “It’s just a stagnant situation. Nothing (was) really there to push it out of the area. It’s causing an ideal situation for hot weather.”

The low clouds expected to move in will cause a drop in temperatures today, he said. Highs will be in the mid-80s on the coast and in the mid-80s to low 90s in the valleys, he said.