It’s the first day of July and summer heat is hitting much of the nation Friday, but not in Southern California.
In fact the latest little heat wave — what forecasters said was the season’s third — is over, and realtively mild temperatures topping out in the upper 70s for much of the Southland are expect through the Fourth of July holiday weekend and beyond.
While New Yorkers will be miserable in humid 80-degree weather and government workers in Washington, D.C. will labor in the mid-80s with high humidity, it’ll be only in the upper 70s in downtown Los Angeles and other inland areas through the middle of next week.
Skies will be a bit cloudy in the morning hours around the region with some coastal fog possible, but that should all burn off each day by mid-afternoon.
Even toasty Palm Springs will be relatively mild with a 104 high temperature Friday. That may seem pretty hot, but it was above 120 a couple weeks ago.
Friday’s temperatures will be at or near normal, and Saturday’s will be a couple of degrees below normal, said National Weather Service meteorologist Rich Thompson.
The NWS forecast partly cloudy skies in Los Angeles County today and highs of 71 in Avalon; 72 at LAX; 75 in Long Beach; 78 in downtown L.A.; 82 in Burbank; 84 on Mount Wilson; 86 in Pasadena; 87 in San Gabriel; 88 in Woodland Hills; 89 in Saugus; 98 in Palmdale; and 99 in Lancaster. Saturday’s highs will be 2 to 4 degrees lower but climb marginally Sunday and remain roughly at the same level for the next several days.
Partly cloudy skies were forecast for Orange County Friday, along with highs of 71 in Laguna Beach; 72 in San Clemente; 73 in Newport Beach; 78 in Anaheim and Mission Viejo; 79 in Irvine; and 80 in Yorba Linda and Fullerton. Orange County highs will remain roughly at that level for several days.
Along the coast, high surf and strong rip currents were forecast to continue through late today. A beach hazards statement — one notch below a high surf advisory — will be in effect through this evening in Los Angeles and Orange counties.
NWS forecasters said surf of 3 to 5 feet will pound the shore Friday as a result of a long-period swell in the Pacific Ocean. Beach goers were warned to guard against sneaker waves capable of sweeping them out to sea.
Swimmers were urged never to swim alone, to remain near lifeguard towers, and, if snagged by a rip current, to swim parallel to shore until able to break free.
—City News Service