Los Angeles’ Rare Humidity Tied to Pacific Heat, Climate Change

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But an unusually warm Pacific Ocean is pushing humidity to uncommon levels in a region better known for dry heat.Author of the article: You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA - JULY 15: A seagull flies as people enjoy the waves at Santa Monica State Beach amid a heat wave across Southern California on July 15, 2026 in Santa Monica, California. An extreme heat warning is currently in effect for much of Los Angeles County through tomorrow with a heat advisory in place for coastal areas including LA County beaches. Photo by Mario Tama /Photographer: Mario Tama/Getty I(Bloomberg) — Los Angeles isn’t the first place people think of as sultry in summer. But an unusually warm Pacific Ocean is pushing humidity to uncommon levels in a region better known for dry heat.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLYSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountA marine heat wave stretching across the Pacific from the coast of Mexico toward Hawaii is warming the waters off Southern California, said Jennifer Francis, a senior scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center. The hot ocean may be the immediate cause, but a warming climate is the force behind it.“This marine heat wave has fingerprints of human-caused climate change all over it,” Francis said. “It isn’t sticky by East Coast standards, but it’s enough to make temperatures in the high 80s feel like the low 90s, which folks in LA are not used to.”Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againThe unusually warm water is evaporating more moisture into the atmosphere, and a weak onshore flow is carrying that humidity inland, said Tom Kines, a meteorologist with AccuWeather Inc. “Downtown LA has been getting close to 90F,” Kines said. “When you factor in the dew points it has been feeling like four to eight degrees higher than the actual temperature.”Humidity makes hot weather feel even hotter, sending more people to air conditioners, boosting electricity demand and adding stress to power grids. It also raises health risks by making it harder for the body to cool itself through sweating.AccuWeather calls humidity’s add-on effect the “RealFeel” temperature, while the US government refers to it as the heat index and Environment and Climate Change Canada cites it as the “humidex” in forecasts issued north of the US border. If the temperature outside is 90F (32C), but the relative humidity is 60%, it is going to feel like 100F, the National Weather Service said. These calculations are just for shady areas, if a person is “exposed to direct sunlight, the heat index values can be increased by up to 15F.”Further to the south, the Pacific waters near Peru and across the equator are warming as well as part of the growing El Niño many scientists say will be among the strongest on record. The warm waters off California are separate from that, Francis said, but they are part of a broader pattern of unusually warm oceans around the world. Marine heat waves have also emerged near Alaska and Siberia, across Hudson Bay and throughout much of the Mediterranean.The warming oceans are adding another source of fuel to a Northern Hemisphere summer already marked by record heat, destructive wildfires and flooding.“A strong El Niño is worrisome enough,” Francis said, “but the added influence of existing ocean hot blobs spells double trouble.”—With assistance from Lauren Rosenthal.This advertisement has not loaded yet.Notice for the Postmedia NetworkThis website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.