LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — In some places in the Southland this weekend, there were triple-digit temperatures, causing many families to escape to the beach for some relief from the heat.
The amount of people rushing out to dive in the water as temperatures continue to rise is concerning some health experts who note continuously increasing coronavirus cases.
Others who wanted to exercise or have an outdoor meal with loved ones had to start their day a little earlier than usual to beat the heat in places like Santa Clarita, where it reached 90 degrees by 10 a.m. on Saturday.
Some restaurants with outdoor seating say the heat is affecting their business because customers don’t want to sit outside while the sun is beaming.
Due to pandemic closures, locals are left without their typical refuge from hot summer days like cold movie theaters, indoor malls and public pools.
Officials are encouraging the public to stay hydrated, limit strenuous outdoor activity between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., find a safe location to beat the heat, and to check on elderly neighbors, kids and pets who may be more susceptible to heat-related illnesses.
“Over the past decade, the heat wave in California has caused more human harm than those things put together,” said Daniel Swain, a UCLA scientist, of earthquakes and wildfires. “Heat waves and heat extremes are sort of an underestimated killer.”
To make the cool-off a little more enjoyable, some families are also introducing more cold and frozen treats, like popsicles, ice cream and iced coffee, into their heat spell diet.
The National Weather Service says temperatures may peak in some areas Monday and Tuesday, and that the conditions could pass a seven-day heat wave record from July 2006.
Several cooling centers are open in Los Angeles County throughout the weekend and into early next week.
