Southern California heat wave raises fears of heat-related illnesses

The sun shines over a palm tree during a heat wave Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)

LOS ANGELES – A late-summer heat wave continued to broil the Southland Friday, with the triple-digit heat expected to linger through the weekend, raising fears of heat-related illnesses and possible wildfires.

“A very hot air mass will remain over the region into early next week as strong high pressure aloft over the Western United States will limit onshore flow,” according to the National Weather Service. “Dangerously hot conditions are expected away from the coast, especially in the mountain and foothill locations where overnight low temperatures will cool little from daytime highs.”

On Thursday, the temperature reached 114 degrees at Hollywood Burbank Airport, tying the record for the day set in 2020. It was also the highest temperature recorded in Burbank since record-keeping began in 1939 and the third time temperatures reached 114. The other times were July 6, 2018, Sept. 5, 2020, and Sept. 6, 2020.

Forecasters noted that as of mid-afternoon Friday, Long Beach and downtown Los Angeles had both already reached 109 degrees, while the temperature reached 102 at Los Angeles International Airport.

“Models are still advertising a slight increase in onshore flow tomorrow (Saturday) that will bring some minimal relief, but still brutally hot, especially in the warmer valleys where it will be another 110+ day there,” according to the NWS.

Due to the high heat and heightened fire risk, Malibu’s Trancas Canyon Park and Charmlee Wilderness Park will be closed through Saturday, according to the city.

You may like: Extreme heat is impacting most Americans’ electricity bills

Classes had to be cut short at two Los Angeles Unified School District campuses Friday — Gault Street Elementary School in Van Nuys and Verdugo Hills High School in Tujunga. Both of those schools had power outages, prompting a switch to a “Minimum Day Schedule” to “ensure the health and safety of our students and staff,” according to the district.

Forecasters noted earlier that the heat wave “is coinciding exactly with the extreme heat wave in 2020, so while we may not break a lot of records with this event, it doesn’t diminish the impacts or lessen the precautions that need to be taken to stay safe. Do not do any hiking or other physical activities except very early in the day and even then use extreme caution and stay well-hydrated.”

The combination of high heat and anticipated low humidity prompted the NWS to issue a red flag warning of heightened fire danger for the Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area, San Gabriel Mountains, Western Antelope Valley Foothills and the 5 and 14 Freeway corridors until 10 p.m. Saturday.

Forecasters said wind conditions will “limit the potential for classic red flag criteria,” however, “there is a history of large fires with similar weather conditions during this time of the year.”

You may like: This year may end up as the warmest humanity has measured

According to the NWS, humidity levels could drop to between 8 percent and 15 percent in the red flag areas, with little recovery during overnight hours.

Meanwhile, temperatures will be soaring well into the triple digits.

An excessive heat warning took effect Tuesday morning in the western San Fernando Valley, and it will remain in force until 8 p.m. Monday — three days longer than originally anticipated. Forecasters said the area could see temperatures reaching as high as 118 degrees.

An excessive heat warning was also extended through 8 p.m. Monday in the Santa Clarita Valley, the inland coastal area stretching into downtown Los Angeles, the Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area, Calabasas, eastern San
Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Mountains, San Gabriel Valley, and the 5 and 14 Freeway corridors.

Forecasters said those areas could reach 112 degrees.

The Santa Ana Mountains and foothills and Orange County inland areas were also under excessive heat warnings until 8 p.m. Monday, with temperatures predicted up to 105 degrees.

Even coastal areas will not be immune from the heat. An excessive heat warning is in effect until 8 p.m. Monday for the Malibu Coast and Los Angeles County beaches, along with the Palos Verdes Hills, with some of those areas possibly reaching 96 degrees, according to the NWS.

The Antelope Valley and Antelope Valley foothills will be under an excessive heat warning until 8 p.m. Saturday, with 110-degree heat expected.

A less severe heat advisory will be in place for Orange County coastal areas until 8 p.m. Monday. Temperatures there are anticipated as high as 95 degrees.

“The hottest days with this event are expected to be Friday and Saturday in most areas, and of those two days Friday has the slight edge of being the peak day,” according to the NWS. “Overnight night lows will be warming up as well, especially in the foothills and lower mountain locations where some areas may stay in the 90s much of the night. Not quite as hot overnight for coast and valleys, but even there some warmer valley areas will stay above 80 until well into the overnight hours.”

A cooling trend is not expected to kick in until possibly Tuesday, forecasters said.

Due to the high heat, the South Coast Air Quality Management District issued an ozone advisory that will be in place until 8 p.m. Friday due to anticipated elevated smog levels because of the heat wave. The ozone level is expected to reach the unhealthy level or worse in the Santa Clarita Valley and portions of the San Gabriel Valley through Friday, according to the AQMD.

The San Diego area is also sizzling, with thermometer readings into triple digits expected to continue in various locales into the weekend and until early next workweek.

Dangerously hot conditions are in the forecast again in Riverside County valleys and desert communities with highs expected over 110 degrees over the weekend, forecasters said.
“All inland areas will be heating up,” the NWS posted on social
media. “We’ve been hinting at some hot weather expected later this week. Our confidence is increasing in seeing highs near 10 to locally 15 degrees above average. The time is now to prepare for the incoming hot weather!”

Officials warned the public to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun and check up on relatives and neighbors.

Residents were also urged to never leave children or pets in unattended vehicles, which can reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes. (CNS)

You may like: Biden proposes rule for workplaces to address excessive heat