Dramatic Temperature Spike Hits Los Angeles

Records broken as heat wave brings unseasonably warm weather to the region.

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Several daily temperature records were broken in Los Angeles on Wednesday as highs across the basin reached into the high 80s and low 90s, well above the typical 60s and 70s for this time of year. The National Weather Service reported the temperatures were "pretty dramatic" and 20 degrees above normal, driven by a high pressure system and Santa Ana winds.

Why it matters

Short-term heat spikes in February are not entirely unusual for Southern California, but the dramatic rise in temperatures has raised concerns about the potential impacts on energy usage, public health, and the environment. While the heat wave is expected to be brief, it highlights the region's vulnerability to the effects of climate change.

The details

According to meteorologist Rose Schoenfeld, record highs were set at LAX (88 degrees) and UCLA (87 degrees) on Wednesday. The unseasonably warm weather was driven by a high pressure system and Santa Ana winds, leading to temperatures that were 15-20 degrees above average for this time of year across the Los Angeles basin, including typically cooler coastal areas.

  • On Wednesday, February 4, 2026, temperatures across Los Angeles reached record highs.
  • The heat wave is expected to continue through Thursday, February 5, 2026, before cooling down by the weekend.

The players

Rose Schoenfeld

A meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard, California.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Our temperatures today are pretty dramatic. That's well into the 20-degrees-above-normal range right now.”

— Rose Schoenfeld, Meteorologist (Los Angeles Times)

What’s next

Forecasters expect temperatures to cool down significantly by the weekend, with highs only 4-8 degrees above average instead of the 15-20 degree spike seen earlier in the week.

The takeaway

This heat wave, while short-lived, serves as a reminder of the region's vulnerability to the effects of climate change and the need for proactive measures to address the impacts of extreme weather events on public health, energy usage, and the environment.