More dangerously hot temperatures seared most of the Southland Thursday, continuing what has been a record-setting heat wave that is expected to continue for at least one more day before conditions begin to cool — slightly — over the weekend.
But while temperatures are anticipated to fall, they will remain “well above normal through next week.”
“Expecting one more day of similar temperatures before the current high pressure system starts shifting into (Arizona) which will initiate a brief cooling trend over the weekend,” according to the National Weather Service. “Most areas except the far interior will experience 5-10 degrees of cooling this weekend, though that still keeps highs 10-20 degrees above normal. A shallow marine layer has begun to form over the coastal waters and many beaches will start out with dense fog the next few days and that will help cool off the coastal areas.”
In the meantime, however, an extreme heat warning will remain in place in most areas until 8 p.m. Friday, with forecasters warning of temperatures reaching as high as 104 in some areas.
A less severe heat advisory will be in place until 8 p.m. Friday in coastal areas, where temperatures in the 80s and 90s are expected.
Forecasters noted that the extended high temperatures will being “a high risk of heat illness for just about everyone.”
The heat wave that began intensifying on Monday has seen record temperatures each of the past three days. On Wednesday, a series of daily temperature records were set:
— Downtown Los Angeles reached 95 degrees, topping the 1997 record of 87;
— Los Angeles International Airport hit 82 degrees, breaking the 1988 record of 79;
— Long Beach reached 91 degrees, breaking the 1960 record of 86;
— UCLA reached 87 degrees, breaking the 1978 record of 84;
— Burbank measured 97 degrees, breaking the 1978 record of 89;
— Woodland Hills reached 100 degrees, breaking the 1997 record of 92;
— Palmdale reached 92 degrees, topping the 1997 record of 84; and
— Lancaster reached 93 degrees, topping the 2004 record of 85.
The temperatures reached in Palmdale and Lancaster were the highest ever recorded in March in those areas.
The city of Los Angeles was offering all city libraries and recreation centers as cooling centers this week. A full list of those locations is available at laparks.org/reccenter and lapl.org/branches. The city Department of Recreation and Parks also operates numerous public pools and splash pads, with information also available on the agency’s website.
Extended hours of 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. were being offered at four Los Angeles city facilities for residents and their pets:
— Canoga Park Senior Citizens Center, 7326 Jordan Ave.;
— North Hollywood Senior Citizen Center, 5301 Tujunga Ave.;
— Pecan Recreation Center, 145 S. Pecan St., downtown Los Angeles; and
— Algin Sutton Recreation Center, 8800 S. Hoover St., South Los Angeles.
Los Angeles County also operates numerous cooling centers, including libraries, rec centers, pools and splash pads. Locations are available through an interactive map at ready.lacounty.gov/heat/.
After the slight cooldown on Saturday, temperatures are expected to slowly increase again in inland areas on Sunday and along the coasts on Monday. While next week won’t reach the temperatures seen this week, highs will still be 15 to 20 degrees above normal, according to the NWS.