PHOENIX — With much of the Northeast gripped by snow and ice storms, the Southwest is riding a heat wave that is setting record high temperatures and sent people to beaches and golf courses in droves Friday.
People in Phoenix and Los Angeles were sunning themselves in 80-degree weather, with forecasters predicting more of the same through the weekend.
Both cities are known for warm weather, but the National Weather Service said the temperatures are uncharacteristically hot for this time of year. The heat is the result of a high-pressure system off the coast of Southern California.
Tucson could possibly receive its first 90-degree day of the year, said Charlotte Dewey, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Phoenix. In southwest Arizona, the city of Yuma is expected to reach 90 Friday and 91 on Saturday.
