- A significant and long-lasting heat wave is expected to kick off in Southern California on Thursday, with temperatures reaching into the 90s.
- More than a dozen heat records are poised to be tied or broken in the L.A. area Thursday, with a second round of record-setting temperatures on deck for Tuesday and Wednesday.
- Officials are warning residents to stay out of the sun and watch for signs of heat stroke or heat exhaustion.
A major heat wave kicked off in the Southland on Thursday with temperatures predicted to soar 25 degrees above normal, smashing records across Los Angeles and bringing a high risk of heat-related illness.
A heat advisory is in place from 10 a.m. Thursday to 8 p.m. Friday along a stretch of coastal Southern California from San Diego County to San Luis Obispo County, with forecasters warning of widespread temperatures of 90 to 100 degrees.
The unseasonable heat will linger into Friday, weaken slightly over the weekend and then dial up to scalding again next week, according to the National Weather Service.
Click Here to Subscribe to the California Political Review
“Given the unprecedented length and magnitude of this extreme heat wave, heat stress will be increasing each day, especially in areas that aren’t used to the heat, like the coastal areas, where people may not have methods to cool off their homes,” the weather service warned Wednesday. “Try to complete outdoor activities early in the day or in the evening, and don’t leave people or pets in cars.”
Afternoon temperatures on Thursday will generally be 15 to 25 degrees above normal across the Los Angeles region, where more than a dozen records are expected to be tied or broken, according to the weather service.
Forecasters are expecting 95-degree heat in Pasadena, San Gabriel and Burbank, surpassing single-day temperature records of 92, 93 and 93 degrees, respectively, set in 2007.
A lack of meaningful onshore wind flow means the heat will persist for several days — and that people will not be able to find much relief from toasty temperatures along the coastline.
Indeed, Long Beach is expected to hit 94 degrees Thursday afternoon, likely breaking the 92-degree record for the day set in 2007. Temperatures at the Santa Monica Pier are expected to reach 85 degrees Thursday, notably higher than the 78-degree record on March 12, 2015.
Though people may be eager to jump in the ocean in the coming days, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued a warning Wednesday telling people to avoid the water at several beaches due to high bacteria levels.
Affected areas include the Santa Monica Pier; Mothers Beach in Marina del Rey; near the creek and the Pulga Canyon storm train at Will Rogers State Beach; near the restrooms at Leo Carrillo State Beach; near the Pico-Kenter storm drain at Santa Monica Beach; and near the Castlerock storm drain at Topanga County Beach.
Public Health officials are also warning people to seek medical help for signs of heat stroke or heat exhaustion, such as dizziness, nausea, rapid heartbeat, confusion or passing out.
Speak Your Mind