An unusually warm winter in Northern California is about to end with its highest temperatures yet. But a far more momentous heat spell is about to unfold in the Southwest, where days of well above-normal temperatures will break records and lock in that region’s warmest winter in modern history.
The mercury is forecast to climb significantly Thursday, with the heat lasting through Saturday in Southern California and Sunday in Arizona. Phoenix is forecast to reach 94 degrees Friday and Saturday. That would be the hottest temperature ever measured there in meteorological winter, which runs from December through February.
Temperatures will be 20 to 25 degrees above normal in Los Angeles, where 90-degree readings are predicted Friday. Palm Springs will bake in the mid-90s…