Los Angeles Issues Alert as March Heatwave, Oscars Closures Hit

Los Angeles is bracing for a rare combination of extreme early-season heat and Hollywood gridlock this week, as a potentially record-breaking March heatwave collides with expanding road closures for Sunday’s 98th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre.

Record-Challenging March Heat Descends on Los Angeles

Forecasters say an unusually strong high-pressure ridge parked over the Southwest will drive temperatures across Los Angeles County into midsummer territory over the next several days, with some locations on track to break long-standing March records. The National Weather Service expects downtown Los Angeles, Burbank and other inland communities to climb well into the upper 90s by Thursday and Friday, levels more typical of late summer than the tail end of winter.

By Friday, projections call for downtown Los Angeles to reach around 98 degrees, with similar readings in Burbank and mid-90s possible from Long Beach to Santa Ana. Those temperatures are more than 20 degrees above seasonal averages for mid-March and could challenge or surpass the hottest March days ever recorded in the city, according to local meteorologists.

The early-year blast of heat follows what federal climate data has already identified as one of Southern California’s warmest winters on record, amplifying concerns about drought conditions and the rapid loss of already below-average mountain snowpack. Climate scientists note that such off-season extremes are becoming more frequent in a warming climate, with longer, drier and hotter periods now appearing outside the traditional summer window.

While coastal areas will feel a bit of relief from ocean breezes, temperatures there are still expected to surge into the upper 80s and low 90s at times, leaving even typically mild beach communities facing conditions more akin to a July heatwave than an early March weekend.

Heat Advisories, Health Risks and Cooling Options

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for large swaths of Los Angeles County beginning late Thursday morning and stretching through at least Friday evening, warning of a 34-hour window of elevated risk for heat-related illness. Officials caution that the timing and intensity of the heat could catch residents and visitors off guard, particularly those arriving for Oscars events expecting typical mild spring conditions.

Health officials are urging people to limit outdoor activity during the hottest part of the day, typically from late morning through early evening, and to drink water regularly even before feeling thirsty. Vulnerable groups such as young children, older adults, outdoor workers, people experiencing homelessness and those without reliable access to air conditioning are considered particularly at risk in this kind of early-season heat.

Los Angeles County and city agencies are preparing to open or extend hours at designated cooling centers, including libraries, recreation facilities and senior centers, especially in inland and valley neighborhoods where temperatures will peak. Travelers staying in older motels or short-term rentals are being encouraged to confirm that air conditioning is functioning properly and to seek out air-conditioned public spaces during the afternoon if needed.

Officials also warn that the combination of high heat and dry offshore winds could raise fire danger in foothill and canyon areas. Visitors planning hikes in the Santa Monica Mountains, Griffith Park or the Angeles National Forest are being asked to start early, carry extra water, avoid steep exposed trails in the afternoon and heed any temporary trail or road restrictions that may be put in place.

Oscars Street Closures Tighten Around Hollywood Boulevard

At the same time the heat builds, access around Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue is tightening as crews assemble grandstands, media platforms and security checkpoints for Sunday’s Academy Awards. Street and sidewalk closures began ramping up earlier this month and will expand through the week, culminating in a near-total shutdown of the blocks surrounding the Dolby Theatre for the day of the ceremony.

According to city advisories and traffic bulletins, segments of Hollywood Boulevard around the intersection with Highland Avenue are already reduced or fully closed to vehicle traffic, with barricades diverting drivers onto Franklin Avenue and Sunset Boulevard. Lanes and sidewalks on Highland Avenue are also seeing rolling closures as red carpet infrastructure and security perimeters are completed.

By the early hours of Sunday, Hollywood Boulevard will be closed to cars for several blocks around the Dolby Theatre, with additional restrictions on Orange Drive and nearby alleys as organizers lock down the event zone. Sidewalk access will be tightly controlled, with some stretches limited to accredited guests and staff and other sections offering only a narrow pedestrian corridor along fencing and equipment.

Transit riders will also feel the impact. Metro has announced that trains will bypass the station at Ovation Hollywood adjacent to the Dolby Theatre after the last regularly scheduled train on Saturday night, with service expected to resume normal stops after 6 a.m. Monday. Several bus routes that normally run along Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue will be detoured to parallel streets throughout Oscars weekend.

What Visitors and Drivers Should Expect This Week

For travelers, the overlap of a regionwide heatwave and one of the city’s most disruptive annual events means planning ahead is essential. Drivers are being advised to avoid the Hollywood and Highland area if possible, particularly from Thursday onward as closures expand and rehearsals, press events and fan gatherings intensify around the awards campus.

Navigation apps may not fully reflect the latest barricades and lane reductions, so local transportation officials recommend building in extra time, using alternate east west corridors such as Franklin Avenue, Sunset Boulevard or Fountain Avenue, and approaching attractions like the Hollywood Bowl, Griffith Observatory or Runyon Canyon from less congested routes. Rideshare drivers are likely to use creative drop-off points along side streets north and south of Hollywood Boulevard, leaving visitors to walk several blocks to reach the Walk of Fame or nearby hotels.

Pedestrians can expect dense crowds, metal barricades and bag checks near the Oscars perimeter, especially around the Hollywood and Highland complex and along the Walk of Fame in front of the Dolby Theatre. Visitors hoping for a glimpse of the red carpet should be prepared to stand for extended periods in the heat with limited shade and should carry water, sunscreen and sun protection like hats or umbrellas where security rules allow.

Many Hollywood businesses remain open during Oscars week but may be harder to reach, with some storefronts partially obscured by staging, scaffolding and media structures. Hotel guests in the area may receive specific instructions on pick-up and drop-off zones, entry points and expected noise levels as rehearsals and technical checks run late into the evenings leading up to Sunday’s broadcast.

Advice for Tourists Navigating Heat and Hollywood Gridlock

Tourism officials emphasize that Los Angeles remains very much open for visitors, but they are urging flexibility in itineraries over the next several days. Travelers who had planned to center their stay around Hollywood Boulevard are being encouraged to shift some sightseeing to cooler morning or evening hours and to consider exploring other neighborhoods during the peak afternoon heat and road closures.

Beach communities such as Santa Monica, Venice and Manhattan Beach, along with coastal areas of Malibu, will offer slightly cooler conditions than inland neighborhoods, though temperatures will still be notably warmer than normal. Popular indoor attractions, including museums downtown and on the Westside, shopping centers and cultural venues across the city, provide options for midday activities out of the sun.

Visitors staying in Hollywood who do not need to drive are being advised to lean on rail and bus connections outside of the most heavily affected blocks, or to walk short distances where sidewalks remain open and conditions are safe. Sturdy footwear, light-colored clothing and frequent breaks in air-conditioned spaces can help make the experience more comfortable during the hottest hours.

For many travelers, the combining factors of extreme heat and Oscars congestion will shape the feel of Los Angeles this week, turning routine cross-town trips into logistical puzzles and transforming Hollywood’s usual bustle into a complex maze of barricades, cameras and red carpet glamour. With careful planning and a willingness to adapt, officials say, visitors can still enjoy the city while staying safe, cool and as mobile as possible in an extraordinary March moment for Los Angeles.