SoCal Heat Wave Breaks February Records Across Region

Temperatures soar to near-summer levels, with Woodland Hills hitting 97 degrees on Friday.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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A rare February heat wave peaked in Southern California on Friday, breaking daily temperature records across the region, including in Los Angeles. Forecasters with the National Weather Service predicted temperatures significantly above seasonal averages, potentially reaching the mid-90s in inland areas.

Why it matters

This unseasonably warm weather in February is highly unusual for the region and raises concerns about the impacts of climate change, as well as the ability of residents to adapt to such extreme conditions, especially those without access to air conditioning.

The details

Woodland Hills experienced the highest temperature recorded on Friday, reaching 97 degrees, surpassing the previous record of 92 degrees set in 1986. Daily records also fell in Downtown Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Burbank. Orange County saw Santa Ana reach 95 degrees, exceeding last year's record of 93 degrees, whereas Anaheim hit 96 degrees, breaking the 2008 record of 88 degrees. In the Inland Empire, Massive Bear Lake recorded 70 degrees, besting the 1986 record of 67 degrees, and Idyllwild reached 79 degrees, surpassing the 1986 record of 74 degrees.

  • On Friday, February 28, 2026, temperatures peaked across Southern California.
  • Temperatures are expected to remain warm through Saturday, February 29, before cooling into the 70s and 80s by Monday, March 2.

The players

National Weather Service

The federal agency responsible for weather forecasting and issuing weather-related warnings.

Robbie Munroe

An NWS forecaster who stated that the temperatures seen in February are highly unusual for the region.

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What they’re saying

“It's unusual to have 90s anywhere from December through February, at least. In fact, we're in record-breaking territory today.”

— Robbie Munroe, NWS Forecaster

“Today is actually the peak of the heat, and if you live near the coast, it might be the hottest you see already.”

— Robbie Munroe, NWS Forecaster

What’s next

Temperatures are expected to mostly return to normal for this time of year by Monday, with most areas heading back down to the 70s.

The takeaway

This heat wave, while highly unusual for February, is described as brief, and the expected cooling in the evenings may help mitigate some of the potential impacts for residents without access to air conditioning. However, the intensity of these record-breaking temperatures raises concerns about the effects of climate change and the ability of the region to adapt to such extreme conditions.