Record 100-Degree October Heat Wave Slams California as Super El Niño Threats Escalate

By 2 p.m. on Monday, residents in Los Angeles will be battling temperatures rising to 102 degrees, with little relief in sight. 

Most of California has been plagued by a multiday heat wave affecting more than 35 million people. Temperatures have soared up to 20 degrees above normal for this time of year, from Northern California, including the San Francisco Bay Area, to the Mexico border, according to ABC News.

As of Monday morning, Los Angeles and San Diego remain under an extreme heat warning, with heat advisories posted on Sunday for San Francisco and Sacramento.

As El Niño years tend to be the hottest on record, is California finally feeling the effects of the super storm this year? 

Summer stays put in Southern California

A large chunk of California finds itself under an extreme heat dome going into this week, with temps not set to let up until next weekend. The hardest-hit areas of the state include San Diego and Los Angeles, according to AccuWeather. 

"The city of Angels has a chance to tie or break daily records through early this week as temperatures remain 15 to 25 degrees above the historical average," AccuWeather meteorologist Lauren Bader said.

The ongoing heat wave in Los Angeles has the potential to extend until Oct. 9 and could possibly rank among the 10 most intense heat waves in Los Angeles history, based on the exclusive AccuWeather HeatWave Counter and Severity Index™. The previous record holder was from Aug. 31–Sept. 8 in 1955.

Meanwhile, in San Diego, the temperature reached 105 degrees on Saturday, the first time the city reached the 100-degree mark in October since 1987.

"The heat will not remain confined to Southern California as high temperatures in places such as Fresno and the San Francisco Bay Area will be 10 to 15 degrees above the historical average through much of this week as well," Bader said.

"Even coastal areas will experience unusual warmth with increased offshore winds and a limited marine layer."

Wildfire risks

The heat is also complicating conditions as firefighters battle the Bouquet fire in the Santa Clarita area.

The fire was first reported shortly after 3 p.m. on Saturday in the area of Bouquet Canyon Road and Quarry Road in the Angeles National Forest.

The fire has been burning at such a rapid rate, evacuation orders and warnings were immediately put in place for several Los Angeles County residents. 

As of Sunday, though, firefighters increased containment of a wildfire burning in the Angeles National Forest to 48%, though the evacuation orders and warnings remained in effect.

Is this the Super El Niño at work? 

Residents in the West have been dealing with the effects of El Niño since it began brewing in June. 

However, while the heat wave is unprecedented, the El Niño is not the cause of the extreme weather conditions. It has far more effect on the ocean conditions at present. 

As of now, Hurricane Rachel is turning toward the open Pacific, but could still bring more life-threatening surf to California later this week.

And right on Rachel's heels, Simon is expected to form this week in the Pacific, becoming the 21st named storm of the season, according to the National Hurricane Center.

In fact, it is the potential for intense rain that has the local government concerned far more than the heat. 

In late September, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a proactive state of emergency, mobilizing state resources ahead of potential winter storms and other impacts expected due to the El Niño.

The governor hopes that by  working ahead, California will be in a “stronger position before winter weather intensifies.”

“We are preparing for this El Niño early because every Californian deserves to be safe in their home, connected to their community, and protected when severe weather comes,” Newsom said in his proclamation.

“California is strongest when we look out for one another. That is what this action is about. Giving communities the support they need, giving first responders the tools to do their jobs, and giving families the confidence that their state is ready.”

Part of his direction has included preparing roads and critical infrastructure for intense rains, building up stage emergency supplies, and helping local partners reduce flood, landslide, and coastal risks.