Sweltering, potentially record setting, temperatures are expected to continue through most of this week, the National Weather Service said Sunday.
The Sunday forecast highlighted three projected outcomes’:
— heat will continue, with excessive heat likely for the valleys, mountains, and deserts;
— elevated fire weather conditions away from the coast will continue through next week due to hot and dry conditions
— and any fire starts will have considerable growth potential in the interior valleys, mountains and deserts , which will also continue all week.
An excessive heat warning remains in effect through 8 p.m. Sunday in the Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys, along with the western San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Mountains and the 5 and 14 Freeway corridors.
On Saturday, triple-digit temperatures in Palmdale and Lancaster set new records for heat on July 22, each at 109 degrees – breaking records from 1953 and 2006, respectively.
According to the NWS, excessive heat is the No. 1 cause of weather-related fatalities in the United States.
“Extreme heat will significantly increase the potential for heat-related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities,” NWS forecasters warned. “… 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. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances.”
As has been the case in recent days, the coast will be the place to be, even though temperatures there will still be slightly above normal.
“Closer to the coast, a persistent yet shallow marine layer depth will blanket the coast and keep the warming trend moderated some,” the NWS said. “About a degree or two of warming will occur each day at the beaches, but the marine influence should remain intact and keep the beaches above normal.”
Cooling centers are available across Los Angeles for those with no access to air conditioning. Angelenos can find a nearby cooling spot using the city’s Cool Spots LA App at bit.ly/CoolSpotsLA.
Most centers are served by one or more LA Department of Transportation Dash and Metro bus lines. Details are available at emergency.lacity.gov.
Information on Los Angeles County cooling centers can be found at ready.lacounty.gov/cooling-centers-copy-copy/.