Extreme heat wave continues to roast Southern California

A scorching heat wave that’s now approaching weeklong status was forecast to last into next week, with windy conditions prompting a fire-danger warning in effect though Saturday for all mountain areas from the San Gabriel Valley to southern Santa Barbara County.

The National Weather Service reported that extreme heat will peak through Saturday, with high temperatures between 105 and 115 degrees over most mountain and foothill locations.

Gusty winds — strongest over southern Santa Barbara County with nightly “sundowner” gusts between 25 and 40 mph — along with very low humidity and the possibility of thunderstorm activity resulted in the NWS’ red-flag warning.

“There is an increasing threat for dry lightning and gusty downburst winds this weekend, which will increase the fire danger risk,” according to the NWS, which specified these red-flag areas:

Santa Lucia Mountains, San Luis Obispo County Mountains; Santa Barbara County’s interior mountains; western and eastern Santa Monica Mountains recreational areas; Santa Susana Mountains; southern and northern Ventura County mountains; the Interstate 5 corridor; eastern and western San Gabriel Mountains and the Highway 14 corridor; and western Antelope Valley Foothills.

The red-flag warning will remain in effect until 10 p.m. Saturday.

Forecasters expected winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. “Gusty and erratic winds” were possible with any new fires or thunderstorms, according to forecasters.

Humidity was expected to be 8% to 15% with “poor overnight recoveries” between 15% and 30%.

“There is an increasing risk for dry lightning over Los Angeles and Ventura Counties this weekend, which can start new fires, spread them rapidly with gusty downburst winds, and provide little if any extinguishing rain,” the NWS reported. “If fire ignition occurs, conditions are favorable for extreme fire behavior which would threaten life and property.”

The weather agency urged the public to use extreme caution with anything that can spark a wildfire and advised people who live near wilderness areas to be prepared for evacuation if a wildfire breaks out. More information on preparedness is available at readyforwildfire.org and wildfirerisk.org.

On Thursday, Burbank experienced one of the hottest days on record. The 114 degrees recorded at the Hollywood Burbank Airport tied the hottest-day record. Since temperature records began being tracked in 1939, Burbank also hit 114 on July 6, 2018, Sept. 5, 2020, and Sept. 6, 2020.

An excessive heat warning that took effect Tuesday morning for the western San Fernando Valley was extended to 8 p.m. Monday — three days past the initially anticipated cut-off time. Forecasters said temperatures could get as high as 118 degrees in the area.

The NWS also extended an excessive heat warning through 8 p.m. Monday in the Santa Clarita Valley, the inland coastal area stretching into downtown Los Angeles, the Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area, Calabasas, eastern San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Mountains, San Gabriel Valley and the 5 and 14 Freeway corridors.

Forecasters said those areas could reach 110 to 115 degrees.

The Santa Ana Mountains and foothills and inland areas of Orange County were also issued excessive heat warnings through 8 p.m. Monday, with highs forecast up to 105.

Even in coastal areas, excessive heat warnings were in effect until 8 p.m. Monday for the Malibu Coast and LA County beaches, as well as with the Palos Verdes Hills. Some of those areas could hit 96 degrees, according to forecasters.

The Antelope Valley and its foothill areas will be under an excessive heat warning until 8 p.m. Saturday, with 110 degrees expected.

A less severe heat advisory was in place until 8 p.m. Monday for Orange County coastal areas, where temperatures could reach 95 degrees.

A cooling trend may begin Saturday, very gradually dropping temperatures throughout the coming days, reaching normal seasonal levels by Wednesday, the NWS reported.

Officials warned the public to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun and check up on relatives and neighbors.

Residents were also urged to never leave children or pets in unattended vehicles, which can reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.

The hot, dry weather will also create elevated fire conditions across the mountains, valleys and deserts throughout the week.

Inland Empire

Dangerously hot conditions were in the forecast again Friday in the Inland Empire’s valleys and desert communities with highs expected over 110 degrees over the weekend, according to the NWS.

An excessive heat warning is in effect through Monday evening throughout the valleys in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, including the cities of Riverside, Fontana, San Bernardino, Moreno Valley, Corona, Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga.

The hot, dry weather will also create elevated fire conditions across the mountains, valleys and deserts this week.

High temperatures in Palm Springs were forecast between 112 and 120 degrees, according to the NWS.

Cooling centers are open in Palm Springs at Demuth Community Center, James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center and the Palm Springs Public Library through the end of the month. More information is at EngagePalmSprings.com.

Coachella reached a high of 115 on Thursday and could hit 120 Friday.

Temperatures in downtown Riverside were expected to gradually climb over the following days to a peak of 106 on Friday.

A similar scenario was predicted for Hemet.

Overnight lows will also be uncomfortably high in the mid-to-upper 80s in the hottest areas.

San Diego

The National Weather Service issued excessive-heat warnings for San Diego County’s inland valleys effective until 8 p.m. Monday. The warning terminates Friday at 8 p.m. for the local mountains and deserts.

Daytime highs could reach 102 to 112 degrees in El Cajon, Escondido, La Mesa, Poway, San Marcos and Santee, while forecasters predicted 90s to 104 in Julian, Pine Valley and other highland spots and 112 to 120 in the region’s dry eastern parts of the region.

The San Diego coast can expect temperatures from the mid-80s into the 90s through 8 p.m. Monday.

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