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HEAT BREAK COMING TODAY - WEATHER : SOCAL IS COOLING OFF RECORD HIGHS PARTLY BLAMED FOR ELECTRICAL EMERGENCY.

Long Beach Press-Telegram (CA) - March 30, 2004 Author: From staff and wire reports Following two days of record-breaking heat, temperatures were expected to drop as much as 20 degrees today as a cool marine layer moves into the region.

A record high of 91 degrees was recorded Monday afternoon in Long Beach, smashing the old record of 86 set in 1971.

The high heat also contributed to an electrical emergency Monday as a high-pressure zone turned early spring into early summer across Southern California and up the Central Valley.

Increased demand drove electricity reserves below 7 percent, prompting a Stage 1 emergency and calls for voluntary reduced usage of air conditioners, washers and other appliances.

The California Independent System Operator, which manages much of the state's grid, saw electricity use surpass forecasts by 1,100 megawatts, spokeswoman Stephanie McCorkle said.

A megawatt of electricity can supply about 1,000 homes, she said.

Higher temperatures were a big reason but didn't account for all the higher demand, she said.

``Probably what we're seeing is an increase in growth due to the economy rebounding,'' McCorkle said.

Stage 1 is the lowest of three levels used by the ISO. Stage 2 involves interruption of service to selected utility customers. Stage 3 requires rolling blackouts to keep the system from collapse.

Southern California Edison estimated demand at 2,500 megawatts to 3,000 megawatts more than usual, mainly because of air conditioner use, spokesman Marlon Walker said.

Walker urged the utility's 12 million customers to conserve by setting thermostats to 78 degrees, turning off unnecessary lights and avoiding using washers and other appliances until evening.

On Sunday, at least 15 daily records were topped because of a highpressure system that stonewalled the usual sea breezes. For instance, the temperature at Long Beach Airport soared to 91 degrees Sunday afternoon, eclipsing the previous record of 84 degrees set March 28, 1968.

The cool, protective marine layer that was pushed out to sea over the weekend will return early today, bringing temperatures more in line with the 70-degree average for this time of year, forecasters said.

``There may be some fog along the coast in the mornings ... and the whole (region) will be much cooler for the rest of the week,'' said AccuWeather meteorologist Ken Clark.

In Long Beach, highs should stay in the upper 60s and low 70s through Thursday, with slightly higher temperatures inland, Clark said.

There was a slight chance of showers forecast for Thursday, followed by a mild weekend with overcast mornings and partly cloudy afternoons.

The record highs recorded in and around Long Beach on Monday were caused by a strong offshore flow accompanied by a potent high pressure system that drew warm desert air all the way to California's coastline.

Staff writer Kristopher Hanson and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Caption: Crossing guard Al Bettridge keeps cool as he mans his post at Bellflower Boulevard and Wardlow Road in Long Beach. Temperatures hit a record 91 degrees on Monday but are expected to fall by 20 degrees today. Carl Hidalgo / For the Press-Telegram Leia, an 8-year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback, enjoys a drink straight from the tap on an unseasonably warm Long Beach day at the dog park near Blair Field in Long Beach. Carl Hidalgo / For the Press-Telegram

Edition: AMSection: NEWSPage: A1

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