With “dangerously hot conditions” bearing down on the Southland, excessive heat warnings will be in effect starting Friday and continuing through the weekend across the Southland, with triple-digit temperatures expected in many areas.
“Extreme heat will significantly increase the potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities,” according to the National Weather Service.
Officials said cooling centers will be opened to provide relief to people suffering from the heat who might otherwise be in danger.
The excessive heat warning will go into effect at 11 a.m. Friday and continue until 9 p.m. Monday in the Santa Clarita, San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys, the Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area and the Los Angeles County Mountains.
In the Antelope Valley, the warning will remain in effect until 9 p.m. Tuesday.
The coastal area, stretching into downtown Los Angeles, will be under a less severe heat advisory from 11 a.m. Friday to 9 p.m. Sunday, but temperatures in that area could still reach 99 degrees away from the coast.
Forecasters warned that valley areas could see temperatures as high as 109, while mountains could reach 108 and the Antelope Valley potentially hitting 111.
During the heat wave, the night will not provide much relief because temperatures will remain in the 70s and 80s, according to the NWS.
“Extreme heat will significantly increase the potential for heat-related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities,” warned the NWS.
“Be prepared to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside.”
The weather service also stressed that “young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. This is especially true during warm or hot weather, when car interiors can reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.” The warning also applies to seniors.
Los Angeles city and county officials Thursday announced they are offering residents a way to ride out the heat wave anticipated this weekend by opening their cooling centers.
The city’s Department of Recreation and Parks and the county’s Emergency Operations Center said cooling centers will be activated starting Friday through the weekend at specified facilities to help residents as temperatures reach above 90 degrees.
Due to COVID-19 social distancing requirements, capacity is limited and people are should call ahead for the city’s cooling centers to check space availability, Recreation and Parks stated. The centers will follow the county’s Department of Public Health social distancing guidelines during hours of operation.
The cooling centers will be open noon to 8 p.m. from Friday through Monday, located at:
— Sherman Oaks East Valley Adult Center, 5056 Van Nuys Blvd., 818-386- 9674;
— Slauson Multipurpose Center, 5306 S. Compton Ave., 323-233-1174 or 323-846-5392;
— Canoga Park Senior Citizen Center, 7326 Jordan Ave., 818-340-2633;
— Pecan Recreation Center, 145 S. Pecan St., 323-262-2736; and
— Lafayette Multipurpose Community Center, 625 S. Lafayette Park Place, 213-384-0562.
After the conclusion of the centers’ activation hours, the facilities will continue to follow the citywide park closures restrictions mandated by COVID-19 directives from the County Department of Public Health.
Additional information regarding Los Angeles cooling center facilities is available by calling 311 or by visiting laparks.org/emergency/cooling-center-activation.
Los Angeles County cooling centers will be open at:
— Valleydale Park, 5525 N. Lark Ellen Ave., noon to 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday;
— Buena Vista Library, 300 N. Buena Vista St., Burbank, noon to 6 p.m. Friday through Monday;
— Canoga Park Senior Center, 7326 Jordan Ave.; noon to 8 p.m. Friday through Monday;
— Claremont Library, 208 N. Harvard Ave. noon to 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday;
— Grace T. Black Auditorium, 3130 Tyler Ave., El Monte, noon to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday;
— Griffith Manor Park, 1551 Flower St., Glendale, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday;
— Pacific Community Center (entrance near outdoor basketball/pickleball courts), 501 S. Pacific Ave., Glendale, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday through Tuesday;
— Pecan Recreation Center, 145 S. Pecan St., noon to 8 p.m. Friday through Monday;
— Salazar Park, 3864 Whittier Blvd., noon to 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday;
— Slauson Recreation Center, 5306 Compton Ave. noon to 8 p.m. Friday through Monday;
— Las Palmas Park, 505 S. Huntington St., San Fernando, noon to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday;
— Sherman Oaks East Valley Adult Center, 5056 Van Nuys Blvd., noon to 8 p.m. Friday through Monday;
— Stevenson Ranch Library, 25950 The Old Road, noon to 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday;
— Topanga Library, 122 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., noon to 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday; and
— Quartz Hill Library, 5040 W. Avenue M-2, noon to 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
Additional information on the county’s cooling centers as well as heat-related illnesses and prevention is at publichealth.lacounty.gov.
The weather Service forecast sunny skies in L.A. County Thursday and partly cloudy skies closer to the coast, along with highs of 72 degrees at LAX; 74 in Avalon; 81 in Long Beach; 82 in Downtown L.A.; 84 on Mount Wilson; 92 in San Gabriel; 94 in Burbank; 95 in Pasadena; 98 in Saugus; 100 in Woodland Hills; and 102 in Palmdale and Lancaster. Highs of 108 are forecast in Woodland Hills Friday and Saturday and in Palmdale and Lancaster on Saturday.
Sunny skies were forecast in Orange County Thursday, along with highs of 75 in Laguna Beach and San Clemente; 76 in Newport Beach; 82 on Santiago Peak; 86 on Ortega Highway at 2,600 feet; 87 at Fremont Canyon and in Irvine; 88 in Fullerton; 89 in Anaheim and Yorba Linda; and 91 in Trabuco Canyon, which will reach a high of 98 on Friday. Several Orange County areas will be in the 90s this week, but not quite as Trabuco Canyon on Friday.
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