The Southland will see its hottest days of the year this week, when a blistering heat wave will send temperatures soaring above 100 degrees in some areas.
Temperatures are expected to climb gradually over the next couple days, peaking on Wednesday and Thursday before dropping back to more normal summertime levels heading into next weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
A heat advisory remained in place Monday for most of the region, and an extreme heat warning will take effect at 10 a.m. Tuesday for many areas, with forecasters predicting temperatures potentially reaching 110 degrees. The extreme heat warning will be in effect until 8 p.m. Thursday, covering much of the Southland.
A less severe heat advisory will be in effect from 10 a.m. Tuesday to 8 p.m. Thursday for Los Angeles County beaches and the Palos Verdes Hills, but some of those coastal areas could see temperatures ranging from 85 to 105 degrees, “hottest on Wednesday and over interior areas,” according to the NWS.
Forecasters also said the “combination of hot and moderately dry conditions with gusty onshore winds” were bringing elevated fire weather conditions across the interior, and “critical fire weather conditions” are possible Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning for interior areas.
An extreme heat warning will also be in place for inland Orange County areas from 10 a.m. Wednesday to 8 p.m. Thursday, with a heat advisory in place during the same time frame for Orange County coastal areas.
Highs are expected to reach triple digits in parts of the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys Wednesday and Thursday, with Wednesday likely seeing the highest numbers.
Forecasters are calling for highs of 87 and 91 degrees in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday and Thursday. In Lancaster, those highs will be 103 and 100, and in Van Nuys, highs of 101 and 95 degrees are expected mid-week.
Overnight lows will generally be in the mid-60s and lower 70s, lingering in the mid-70s in the Antelope Valley.
The NWS added that monsoonal moisture will add to the discomfort, bringing shower and thunderstorm potential each day, highest in the mountains.
Authorities advised people to prevent heat-related health effects by drinking plenty of non-alcoholic fluids, staying out of the sun during the warmest times of the day, taking shelter in air-conditioned spaces if possible and checking up on at-risk friends, relatives and neighbors.
Children and pets should never be left in a parked vehicle even with the windows cracked, as temperatures can heat up to deadly levels within minutes.