Temperatures soared into the triple digits in parts of Los Angeles County on Wednesday as a high pressure system took hold over the region and is expected to linger through the Fourth of July weekend and well into the week afterward.
The National Weather Service has extended an extreme heat warning for Interstates 5 and 14, the western San Gabriel Mountains, the Antelope Valley foothills and the Antelope Valley itself until 6 p.m. July 10. Meteorologists say temperatures could reach 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius) in much of that area, while inland valleys and foothills could reach 115 degrees.
Meteorologists predict that the Antelope Valley could break a remarkable heat record in the coming week.
“An interesting fact about the climate is that Palmdale and Lancaster have had three consecutive days of temperatures above 110 degrees Celsius. The current forecast calls for temperatures to be above 110 degrees Celsius there on all seven days of the forecast period. This is likely to continue through the end of next week,” the NWS said.
Temperatures will continue to rise on Thursday, and again on Friday, which is expected to be the hottest day of the heat wave. The Antelope Valley could potentially reach 116 degrees on Friday, while traditionally warmer valley areas could reach 109 degrees.
“It is likely that many temperature records will be broken on Friday,” the NWS said.
Meteorologists say “only minimal cooling” is expected into the weekend, while increasing onshore flow should eventually cool things down along the coasts and slowly move into the valleys. But the high pressure system is expected to persist and the heat wave “could last well into next week,” the NWS said.
The heat won’t stop Lancaster from hosting a 30-minute fireworks show Thursday night to celebrate America’s birthday.
“There are about 1,800 shells going off, so it’s definitely quite a show,” said Chris Pankonin, a pyrotechnician with Garden State Fireworks.
An extreme heat warning remains in effect until 6 p.m. Monday for the Santa Clarita Valley, Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area, Calabasas, San Fernando Valley and eastern San Gabriel Mountains, where temperatures as high as 110 degrees Fahrenheit are possible.
The San Gabriel Valley is under a less severe heat warning until 6 p.m. Sunday, but temperatures could still reach 104 degrees Fahrenheit. The coastal area from Los Angeles to downtown is under a heat warning from 11 a.m. Thursday through 6 p.m. Sunday, with temperatures ranging from 85 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
The high temperatures and low humidity will also create an extended period of elevated to critical fire danger in areas far from the coast, meteorologists said. A fire warning will be in effect Thursday night through Friday night in the western Antelope Valley foothills and the 5 Freeway corridor, where meteorologists said the hot, dry conditions will be accompanied by northwest winds potentially reaching 25 to 40 mph.
“A significant heat wave will impact the region this week and continue through much of next week, with dangerously high temperatures across much of the area,” the NWS said. “High temperatures will reach 95 to 105 degrees in many areas far from the coast, with highs above 105 to 115 degrees in the interior valleys and foothills, including the Antelope Valley. Very warm to hot conditions may extend closer to the coast late this week.”
Authorities reminded the public never to leave pets or children in vehicles on days that are even slightly warmer than normal, as locked cars can turn into death traps in minutes.
