LOS ANGELES — California's blistering fall heat wave sent temperatures to an all-time record high of 113 degrees in downtown Los Angeles on Monday, and many sought refuge at the beach.
Downtown hit 113 degrees for a few minutes at about 12:15 p.m., breaking the old all-time record of 112 degrees set on June 26, 1990, said Stuart Seto, a weather specialist at the National Weather Service office in Oxnard. Temperature records for downtown date to 1877.
Electrical demand was much higher than normal for this time of year but no problems or shortages were expected on the state grid, said Gregg Fishman, spokesman for the California Independent System Operator, which controls about 80 percent of the grid.
"It's manageable. We've got the resources available," he said.
Demand was expected to reach 46,000 megawatts, compared to 38,300 megawatts a year earlier, he said.
As Mother Nature served up California in a roasting pan, some people were able to seek relief at the beaches — though not in the hundreds of thousands who turned out over the weekend as the heat wave built.
"Because it's Monday and it's a school day, the crowd is a lot smaller, (but) it appears a lot of people aren't going to work or school," said Los Angeles County lifeguard Capt. Angus Alexander.
Angus said Monday was one of the best beach days of the year, with clear visibility all the way to Santa Catalina Island, the popular tourist destination about 20 miles off the mainland coast.
The city of Los Angeles urged people to use Parks and Recreation facilities, senior centers and libraries as cooling centers. A half-dozen senior sites were to remain open until 9 p.m., the Emergency Management Department said.
Umbrellas were the necessary accessory for many women venturing along sizzling sidewalks.
The National Weather Service said the siege of dry heat was being caused by a ridge of high pressure over the West that was keeping the Pacific Ocean's normal moist and cool influence at bay.
Firefighters were on alert for wildfires, but there was little wind amid the onslaught of dry heat.
Red Flag warnings for fire danger were posted in some areas, but mostly due to the withering effect on vegetation alone rather than the dangerous combination of low humidity and offshore winds. Air movement remained breezy at best rather than forming the gusty Santa Ana winds linked to destructive wildfires.
The early fall blast of intense heat follows an unusually cool summer that often found beaches covered in overcast and whipped by chilly winds.
"It's been a long time since we got this hot," said Seto, adding: "It's like our unexpected summer."
Not a bad looking group up there on the jumbotron.
And right before we sang a guy runs up to us and says, "Oh by the way, did they tell you about the pyros? We'll be doing pyrotechnics, you know, Fireworks DURING your song at some point, so try not to jump when they go off..."
In the spirit of family history and documentation, I think the blog should have Dad's most recent letter. So here it is:
Dear Family,
I am in Peru for the weekend. I flew in to Lima late Friday night, arriving 3:00 a.m. Saturday morning. I ended up working till three on Saturday planning the area office for the very busy week ahead. I will be working with the Director of Temporal affairs and his leadership team, and with many of their teams as well. It will be a very aggressive but good week I think.
I thought I would get to see some of the city, but after going to bed at 3:00 a.m. and working much of the day, I decided to sleep and exercise, and then cool my jets on Saturday afternoon around the pool and nice summer weather. Today, Sunday, I went to a ward with one of the guys I am working with. Roberto is bishop of that ward, and it was fun to see him function with a great spirit. The other brother who picked me up is in the stake presidency. I sat with his family in sacrament meeting. It was nice to feel the spirit of the saints here. They are tracking, and growing quickly. They have the spirit of charity, and a lot of faith. The spirit is strong here.
This afternoon I slept and exercised again, in preparation for the coming week, where I will probably get less of both. It has been nice to slow things down, if only a bit, to work on my mental sanity and health. Mom and I have been very busy lately. For me, it seems like everything has hit at once. Three major work major projects, Utah Transit Authority extracurricular Consulting project, new High Priest Group Presidency windup, neck and back problems, helping the stake do High Priest Training…. And when I get back on Saturday afternoon, the rat race will begin again in earnest.
So…., I hope everyone had a good weekend. Having a little alone time and seeing these young families in church (just like ours in Mexico City) has helped me realize that I miss and love you all—in all the places that you are. I am feeling very grateful today for all the fun experiences we have had together, and the love we share. I treasure it more than anything in the world! I hope we can keep having the experiences, and someday even live closer to each other so we can spend more time together.
I met an employee who works here at the hotel who asked about the Church, said she has some Mormon neighbors and lives right across from one of the chapels. I am going to introduce my friends from the oficina to her, since they live close by her. Kind of a new concept, having people around you ask about the Church and want to know more about it. I thought I would help the ward with the ward mission plan they presented today in Joint RS and Priesthood.
Vicki, I hope you and Emily and the Boys have a great time in Chicago and Indiana. An Zach and Al, well I hope you have a wonderful week!
Love
DAD
I’m not sure why it’s taken me so long to write this, my memories of Brian, and I may not ever understand it fully. I think part of it has to do with the fact that to be writing this means admitting that the memory-making is over—a thing of the past, and not something I get to continue doing with him. And I’m sure another part of it is I want to do such a good job to be worthy of his memory that it seems more daunting than any grad school paper or report for work could ever be. I just want it to be good enough and descriptive enough and capture enough of the kind of friend that Brian was to me. I'm sure I'll fall short, but nonetheless, here I write. At first I had thought to make it more cohesive—a beautiful narrative woven together with stories and moments—but somehow my mind seems to like it better in these pieces. So here they are, separate flashes and postcards of memory, little samples in life's box of all the times I remember Brian:
I remember...
Brian, I know I'm not your son, your daughter, your wife, your dad, your mom, your brother or sister—their loss is so great and there is no way to fill the hole of you or ever replace you. But you loved me as a brother and friend during our tour of duty and love, and for that my heart is full of love and friendship. For all of these times we walked alongside each other and for all those steps of the journey—thank you for touching my life. I will always remember, all the times.
Love ya, man,
Zach Pond
Brian Daniel Buttars
06/02/1978 – 11/28/2009
Brian had a passion for life and lived it to the fullest. His had a wonderful smile and brought love and happiness to all he knew. He loved his family; Colette, Cole, Hallie and looked forward to the birth of another son. He loved skiing, boating, especially at
Survived by wife, Colette, children, Cole Daniel and Hallie Ann; parents, Daniel and Jan Buttars; sister and brothers, Courtney (Jared) Geisler, Jordan (Kelli) Buttars, Chelsea (Miles) Lowder, grandmother, Fern Hutchens; father and mother-in-law, Randy and Susan Fitts, 10 nephews and 6 nieces. He will be dearly missed.
