A long-lasting October heat wave will continue to bring dangerous temperatures to Los Angeles and Orange counties through at least Thursday, after downtown Los Angeles reached 102 degrees Monday for its fourth consecutive day of triple-digit heat.
The four-day streak of 100-degree temperatures is the longest in October for downtown Los Angeles and ties the record for the longest such stretch at any time of year, according to the National Weather Service.
A record high of 101 degrees was set Sunday at Hollywood Burbank Airport, breaking the previous record of 100 degrees set in 1964, the NWS said.
Extreme heat warnings remain in effect through 8 p.m. Thursday for coastal and valley areas of Los Angeles County and coastal and inland Orange County.
Highs are expected to remain widespread in the 90s to around 105 degrees through Thursday in Los Angeles County valleys and many coastal areas, or about 15 to 27 degrees above normal for this time of year.
“It’s going to remain hot through the rest of the week but as we noticed today, there will be some areas near the immediate coast where the sea breeze pushes, resulting in 1-5 degrees of cooling,” the NWS said.
Overnight temperatures are not expected to provide much relief, with lows generally in the upper 60s and 70s through Tuesday night and locally in the 80s in some mountains and foothills, the NWS said.
High pressure is expected to begin weakening Friday, although valley highs could remain near 100 degrees and downtown Los Angeles is forecast to remain in the low to mid-90s.
More pronounced cooling is expected Saturday, and forecasters said there is a chance of showers Sunday, mainly in Los Angeles County, as moisture from Hurricane Rachel moves into the region.
The weather service issued a beach hazards statement for the Los Angeles County coast, including Catalina Island, from Tuesday afternoon through late Tuesday night. A coastal flood advisory will take effect at 6 a.m. Wednesday and remain in effect through 11 p.m. Friday.
The initial southeast swell is expected to affect Long Beach and Catalina Island Tuesday and Wednesday, before shifting to a more southerly direction that could affect beaches including Zuma later Wednesday through Friday.
A separate long-period west swell from Super Typhoon Choi-Wan is expected to arrive Saturday night and build Sunday, potentially producing high surf and coastal flooding, including along the Palos Verdes Peninsula, especially during morning high tides.