The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat watch for Tuesday through Thursday as Los Angeles weather is expected to turn sharply hotter across Southern California. Downtown Los Angeles and the L.A. metro area are forecast to reach 90 degrees, while inland valleys climb higher.
Carol Ciliberti, a Weather Service spokesperson, said Wednesday will probably be the hottest day. She described the setup as "a really strong ridge of high pressure" and said, "It’s centered over Arizona and New Mexico and their southern border with Mexico, but it expands to the west over Southern California."
San Gabriel Valley heat
Highs are expected to reach the mid-90s in the San Gabriel Valley and the San Fernando Valley. Temperatures could climb to 100 degrees or higher in the Antelope Valley and the Cuyama Valley in Santa Barbara County, putting the hottest conditions well inland from the coast.
The Weather Service said the heat raises the risk of heat-related illnesses, especially for the young, the elderly and those without air conditioning. Ciliberti also warned, "Do not take your dogs hiking — please," a reminder that exposed trails and long outings will be harder to handle as temperatures rise.
June Gloom and dry fuels
The forecast also marks a break from June Gloom, the marine-layer grayness common in the region, even as the same pattern is expected to expand the heat west across Southern California. South Coast AQMD said the next heat wave brings fire risk, posting "with drying fuels & tall fire plume potential over the valleys and mountains."
That added concern comes as officials extended a health advisory on Saturday because of particle pollution from a warehouse fire in Boyle Heights. The advisory runs until 12:30 p.m. Sunday, and air quality may worsen overnight if winds die down.
By Wednesday, the hottest day should hit the inland valleys first, with the strongest heat still building toward the middle of the week. People in the warmest areas will need to plan for hotter afternoons, limited cooling at home if they do not have air conditioning, and added strain on outdoor activity through Thursday.
