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Climate and Geography/Geology

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Los Angeles enjoys beautiful and mild weather a majority of the year. However, the city is occasionally visited by the Santa Ana winds. These winds are hot and dry and are named for the canyon from which they blow. Due to the location of Los Angeles, the City is subject to earthquakes and unpredictable seismic activity.

Climate: Due to the wonderful climate, Los Angeles is home to many exotic flowers and flowering trees. It is situated in a Mediterranean climate where the weather is warm and dry during the four seasons. There are at least 325 days of sunshine a year. Thanks to the breezes from the Pacific ocean, the beach communities located in LA are cooler in summer and warmer in winter. The average daytime temperature in the summer is 85°F. Nighttime temps usually range from 66°F. Wintertime temperatures only vary a few degrees from 85°F to 70°F during the day. The nighttime temperatures during the winter can become quite chilly. Los Angeles dwellers can expect rain during the winter and spring months of about 15 inches per year. One of the most interesting climate facts about LA is the fact that you can ski and surf in LA on the same day. The mountains that lie within the city limits receive snow every year and the beaches are always ready for a surfer. Unfortunately, the size of Los Angeles and its reliance on automobiles causes the city to suffer from air pollution. The San Fernando Valley and the Los Angeles Basin form bowls that hold in the smog that plagues the city. The state of California has adopted tougher emission laws and the smog situation has improved over the past few decades. Los Angeles, despite its beautiful weather, is the most polluted American city.

Geography: Los Angeles is large by city standards. It is more than 465 square miles making it larger than New York or Chicago in area. The highest point in Los Angeles is Sister Elsie Peak (5,080 feet). The Lost Angeles River is a short river that flows through the city and is almost entirely lined in concrete. Los Angeles has such a variety of geography including beaches, wetlands, hills, mountains, rivers and dunes.

Seismic Conditions: There are a number of faults that run under the City and it is located near the San Andreas Fault. The San Andreas fault is located 33 miles from downtown Los Angeles. There hasn’t been an earthquake of major intensity (higher than 7 on the Richter scale of 10) since the 1850’s. These faults consist of a complex system that poses a seismic threat to virtually every portion of the City. The Northridge earthquake occurred in 1994 on a previously unknown fault line. It was moderate earthquake but inflicted a costly toll on Los Angeles. There were 72 lives lost and damage to at least 93,000 buildings. Other major earthquakes occurred in 1987, 1971 and the 1933 Long Beach earthquake. Thankfully, for those who live and visit LA most earthquakes are minor doing little or no damage.

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