Temperatures will begin to drop Thursday after much of the Southland experienced a mini-heat wave that brought triple-digit highs to some areas.
National Weather Service forecasters noted that Wednesday’s temperatures were running between 1 and 3 degrees cooler than Tuesday, thanks to a slight increase in onshore flow.
An excessive heat warning was in effect until 8 p.m. Wednesday in the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys, along with Calabasas and Agoura Hills, where temperatures reached 108 degrees, with overnight lows falling only into the 70s or 80s.
A less severe heat advisory was extended through 8 p.m. Wednesday in the San Gabriel Mountains and Antelope Valley (14) Freeway corridor, with highs ranging up to 105 degrees. Most of Orange County was under a heat advisory until Wednesday night.
Long Beach Airport reported a record high temperature of 97 degrees on Monday, breaking the mark set for that date in 1995, when the high was 96.
“Temperatures in most areas will drop below normal levels by Thursday and as much as 5-15 degrees below normal by Friday, with valley areas only in the upper 70s and 80s, a good 20 degrees cooler than today,” according to the NWS.
The cooler conditions are expected to last into the Labor Day weekend. Forecasters said the deepening marine layer could also increase the chance of some morning drizzle in select locations. The low-pressure trough is expected to move out of the area starting Sunday, beginning a warming trend, but temperatures will “remain below normal at least through Monday.”
But the heat remains on, cooling centers will be available across the area for those looking to escape the high temperatures. The city of Los Angeles was operating six cooling centers Tuesday, open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at:
— Lake View Terrace Recreation Center, 11075 Foothill Blvd.;
— Mid Valley Senior Center, 8825 Kester Ave.;
— Sherman Oaks East Valley Adult Center, 5056 Van Nuys Blvd.;
— Lincoln Heights Senior Center, 2323 Workman St.;
— Fred Roberts Recreation Center, 4700 Honduras St.; and
— Jim Gilliam Recreation Center, 4000 S. La Brea Ave.
Angelenos can find respite from the heat at all Recreation and Parks facilities and library branches during their normal business hours, Mayor Karen Bass said. For location and hours, see laparks.org/reccenter and www.lapl.org/branches.
Bass added that the Mayor’s Office of Public Safety was working to coordinate with the Emergency Management Department, Los Angeles police and fire departments, Recreation and Parks, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and other city Departments to ensure all departments are ready to respond to the heat wave.
The NWS advised people to drink plenty of fluids, stay indoors if possible in an air-conditioned room, and check up on relatives and neighbors.
Children and pets should never be left inside vehicles without air conditioning for any length of time, as death could occur in minutes when temperatures are this high.