A scorching heat wave is headed to Southern California this week, bringing what are expected to be the hottest temperatures of the summer to a region that has already endured sweltering weather.
After a generally mild August across much of California, forecasters say a ridge of high pressure is expected to usher in temperatures 5 to 10 degrees warmer than normal along the coast and up to 20 degrees warmer in inland communities. The most sweltering temperatures are expected to occur Wednesday through Friday, said Mike Wofford, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
“We’re talking about four days of intense heat,” Wofford said. “We’ve had three or four days of heat before, but this is hotter and longer than most other heat waves we’ve had.”
Temperatures could reach 110 to 115 degrees in the San Fernando Valley, while temperatures in downtown Los Angeles are forecast to be in the mid-90s. Burbank, Woodland Hills, Pasadena, Santa Clarita and Palm Springs could all experience triple-digit temperatures.
The early September heat wave comes on the heels of what climate scientist Daniel Swain predicts could be the hottest summer on record across much of California. Along the coast, it may not have been a scorching summer, but it’s been a different story across large swaths of the state.
“Most of California’s immediate coastline missed out on record-breaking warmth this season (including some of the most densely populated parts of the Southern California megalopolis), meaning that while most of California’s land surface experienced a record-breaking summer, most of California’s population likely did not (a pattern we’ve seen repeated in several recent years),” Swain wrote in a post on his Weather West blog.
The weather service issued an excessive heat warning from 11 a.m. Wednesday through 8 p.m. Friday for most of Los Angeles County, warning the public that high temperatures could reach 95 to 110 degrees. Overnight temperatures in the mid-70s and low-80s aren't expected to bring much relief from the heat.
Temperatures are expected to be between 90 and 95 degrees in Long Beach, between 105 and 110 degrees in Antelope Valley and between 100 and 105 degrees in Pasadena and Burbank, Wofford said. They could reach 106 degrees in Santa Clarita and 118 degrees in Palm Springs on Thursday.
“In terms of this summer, it's going to be the hottest we've ever seen or close to it,” he said.
Mayor Karen Bass announced this week that hundreds of cooling centers will be open through Friday in Los Angeles, including “climate stations” on Skid Row, where people will have access to shade, seating and cold drinks. Residents can find a list of cooling centers and “climate stations” online.
In 2020, there was a heat wave right around this time of year that pushed temperatures up to 120 degrees in Woodland Hills, traditionally the hottest place in Los Angeles, 111 degrees in downtown Los Angeles and 114 in Burbank, according to Wofford. This heat wave is expected to exceed those numbers, but is not expected to break those records, Wofford said.
Death Valley, the national park known for its sweltering temperatures, recorded its hottest month on record in July. A ridge of high pressure is expected to push temperatures in the park up to 118 degrees on Thursday and Friday this week, just shy of the average temperature of 121.9 degrees recorded in July.
Still, other parts of California could approach record temperatures.
By Thursday and Friday, temperatures in the Inland Empire could reach 112 degrees. Inland Orange County is expected to remain in the mid-90s and inland portions of San Diego County could reach as high as 102 degrees, said Philip Gonsalves, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Diego.
The silver lining to this heat episode? Santa Ana winds won't be along for the ride, reducing the risk of fast-spreading, gusty-fueled wildfires even as the southern United States burns.
“There will be a narrow band of land near the beaches where temperatures will be below 90 degrees,” Gonsalves said. “This is because there will still be a marine layer present and we will still have an afternoon sea breeze, whereas if we were in a Santa Ana-like event there would be no sea breeze.”
Temperatures are expected to drop 3 to 6 degrees by Saturday but will remain above normal through the rest of the weekend, at around 105 degrees in the valleys and between 90 and 95 degrees for downtown Los Angeles. By Sunday and Monday, they are expected to drop another 2 to 4 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
Officials are reminding Southern Californians to stay hydrated and not leave pets or children in their cars because the heat could be dangerous. Vulnerable populations, including pregnant women, homeless people, children, the elderly and people with chronic health conditions, are most at risk for heat-related illnesses.
Wofford also warned against doing physical activity, such as hiking, during the day, instead opting to do it very early or very late in the evening.
“This would not be the best week to do this kind of thing,” he added.
