Yet another heat wave settled over the Southland Thursday, driving temperatures into or near the triple-digit mark in traditionally hot communities, with even warmer conditions expected over the next two days.
Areas such as Acton, Lancaster and Palmdale all topped 100 degrees Thursday, while many valley areas such as Van Nuys and Burbank were in the 90s. Downtown Los Angeles was in the upper-80s late Thursday afternoon.
“Valleys and interior areas will see highs well over 100 Friday and Saturday while intermediate areas between the coast and the valleys, including downtown LA, will be in the upper 80s to mid-90s,” according to the National Weather Service. “Current forecast highs are mostly within a degree or two of daily records, with Saturday having the highest chance for that.”
Forecasters noted that overnight lows will be well above normal, meaning “there won’t be as much relief at night as we are accustomed to.”
The NWS warned that temperatures “will become dangerously hot in many areas Friday through this weekend.”
The weather service issued an extreme heat warning that will be in effect through 8 p.m. Sunday for the Antelope Valley and Antelope Valley Foothills, where temperatures of 104 to 114 degrees are possible.
In the western San Gabriel Mountains and the 5 and 14 Freeway corridors, an extreme heat warning will take effect at 10 a.m. Friday through 8 p.m. Sunday, when highs are expected to range between 95 and 105 degrees.
An extreme heat warning will also be in effect from 10 a.m. Friday through 8 p.m. Sunday for the Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area, Calabasas, Agoura Hills, the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys and the Los Angeles inland coastal area, including downtown. Those areas could see “dangerously hot conditions” with temperatures of 95 to 110 degrees, according to the NWS.
The eastern San Gabriel Mountains will be under a heat advisory through 8 p.m. Sunday, while Los Angeles County beaches, the Malibu coast and Palos Verdes Hills will be under a heat advisory from 10 a.m. Friday through 8 p.m. Sunday. All of those areas could see temperatures as high as 100 degrees, forecasters said.
In Orange County, temperatures will also intensify Friday, with the hottest conditions expected Saturday. Anaheim is forecast to reach 92 degrees Friday and 95 Saturday.
An extreme heat warning will be in effect from 10 a.m. Friday through 8 p.m. Sunday in the Santa Ana Mountains and foothills, where temperatures could reach 103 degrees, and in Orange County inland areas, which could see temperatures in the upper 90s. A less severe heat advisory will be in effect for Orange County coastal areas from 10 a.m. Friday through 8 p.m. Sunday, with highs expected in the mid-80s to lower 90s.
The weather service also warned that the combination of extreme heat, dry fuels, and locally gusty winds could increase the risk of large wildfires heading into the weekend.
“Some cooling is expected next week, though temperatures will remain above normal,” forecasters said.
According to the NWS, temperatures will still be 5-10 degrees above normal next week, and humidity levels will be higher than normal.