This was predicted last week. A large high-pressure system located over Utah and Nevada would result in very high temperatures in California.

Well, it was indeed very hot today. I have been keeping a record of maximum/minimum temperatures where I live since 1981. At the same location, Northridge/Porter Ranch, in the San Fernando Valley, about 28 miles northwest of Los Angeles. The record high maximum temperature was 114.5 degrees F. Today, it reached 117.6 degrees F (47.5 C). Nearby Woodland Hills was 118 degrees F.

Supposed to be as hot or possibly a little hotter tomorrow (Sunday). We shall see!

Here is an image of my thermometer and a few temperatures at 4 pm local time.

https://i.postimg.cc/wRpcL10c/IMG-2794.jpg (https://postimg.cc/wRpcL10c)

https://i.postimg.cc/5QS53frc/IMG-2795.jpg (https://postimg.cc/5QS53frc)

https://i.postimg.cc/w1GXFfwB/IMG-2796.jpg (https://postimg.cc/w1GXFfwB)

When I lived in Chicago I kept track of weather statistics and in 1995 the official weather station at O'Hare Airport registered a total of 1199 cooling degree units for the year which at that time was a record high total. Then in 2012 the 1995 record was smashed when O'Hare registered a total of 1324 cooling degree units. Now so far this year, 2020, through September 5th, O'Hare has registered a total of 1226 cooling degree units. I think the record of 1324 cooling degree units from 2012 is probably safe but 2020 has been another hot summer year. The overall statistics indicate that temperatures are warming and summers are getting hotter.

And here's something else interesting that I just discovered, June thru August of this year, 2020, has become Chicago's hottest summer with an average temperature of 76.7 degrees. The previous June thru August record was 76.4 degrees in 1955. June thru August of 1995 had an average temperature of 76.3 degrees, and June thru August of 2012 had an average temperature of 76.1. However, 2012 has the most cooling degree units (1324) because of a blazing hot July which averaged out at 81 degrees. Chicago also had an unusual early season heat wave in March of 2012 which tacked on several additional cooling degree units to the years total.

We occasionally get those temps here in AZ. But for you guys. And some people there probably don't have AC.