Los Angeles heading toward July-August heat record

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The National Weather Service says downtown Los Angeles is expected to record the hottest July-August combination since record-keeping began in 1877.

Meteorologists say that’s based on Friday’s predicted high of 87 degrees (30.56 Celsius), which would make this year’s average 78.5 degrees (25.83 Celsius).

The previous July-August mark is 78.3 degrees (25.72 Celsius) in 1983.

Under sunny skies, the mercury was already 84 degrees (28.89 Celsius) before noon Friday.

Southern California’s summer has seen a lack of sea breezes, record warmth of coastal ocean waters, wildfires in withered vegetation, and fish die-offs in which heat is suspected of being a factor.