After a record-shattering day Monday, Mother Nature turned up the temperature again Tuesday as a heat wave continued to grip the region, prompting warnings of possible heat-related illnesses, raising the risk of wildfires and potentially leading to safety-related power outages for some residents.
An extreme heat warning will be in effect for the bulk of the Southland through 8 p.m. Friday, with the National Weather Service predicting temperatures as high as 112 degrees in some of the traditionally hottest areas, such as the valleys and the San Gabriel and Santa Monica mountains. Even the beaches and inland coastal areas will be covered by the warnings, with the NWS saying triple-digit heat up to 102 degrees is possible, more likely in areas away from the immediate coast.
Forecasters said temperature records across the region will be in danger of falling Tuesday, and possibly again over the next few days.
“The next three days will be the peak of the heat event,” according to the NWS. “… Max temps will range from 100 to 106 degrees all three days across the valleys, lower mountain elevations and far interior. The western San Fernando Valley will be warmer still, with max temps from 106 to 112 degrees. The lack of a strong onshore gradient in the afternoon will allow the inland areas of the coastal regions to warm into the 90s with even some 100 to 101 degree readings possible.
“In addition to the daytime highs running 10 to 15 degrees above normal, the overnight lows will also be 6 to 12 degrees above normal as subsidence from the upper high sets up a strong and hot inversion right at valley/foothill elevations.”
As if the heat weren’t enough, some inland areas will also experience gusting winds and falling humidity, prompting the NWS to issue a red flag warning of critical fire danger that will be in effect until 3 p.m. Friday. The warning will be in effect for the San Gabriel Mountains and the Golden State (5) and Antelope Valley (14) freeway corridors in northern Los Angeles County.
Forecasters warned of temperatures reaching 106 to 108 degrees in the red-flag affected areas and 100 degrees in some lower elevations, combining with humidity levels below 10% in some areas.
As a result of the conditions, the Los Angeles County Fire Department announced Monday it was augmenting staffing and pre-positioning personnel and resources throughout the area to ensure rapid response to wildfires. With many residents likely to flock to the beach in hopes of escaping the heat, the fire department also warned that elevated surf conditions and strong rip currents are still impacting the coast, raising the risk of drowning.
Meanwhile, Southern California Edison announced the possibility of Public Safety Power Shutoffs for nearly 4,000 customers in Los Angeles County, mainly in the area near Malibu and the Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area and in northern areas such as Castaic and Sandberg. The shutoffs are precautionary power cuts implemented during high-fire danger conditions in an effort to prevent blazes from being sparked by energized electrical lines and equipment.
Downtown Los Angeles set a record Monday by reaching 98 degrees, breaking the old record for the date of 96 set in 1931. Long Beach reached 97 degrees, topping the 2010 record of 95 degrees.
In Orange County, Anaheim reached 98 degrees Monday, tying a record set in 2010. Santa Ana reached 100 degrees Monday, tying the record set in 1969.
Local health officials urged people to drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned rooms, stay out of the sun during the hottest parts of the day and check up on relatives and neighbors.
The public was also urged to never leave children or pets in parked vehicles for even a minute, as temperatures inside vehicles can reach deadly levels in virtually no time.
Various Southland cities provide cooling centers for residents without access to air conditioning. A list of available cooling centers in the city of Los Angeles is available at emergency.lacity.gov/heat. L.A. residents can also call 311 for information.
A listing of Los Angeles County cooling centers, as well as locations of county pools and splash pads, is at ready.lacounty.gov/heat/.