Southern California is bracing for the hottest temperatures of the year over the July 4th holiday weekend.
The National Weather Service has issued excessive heat warnings and advisories that will likely remain in effect at least through Saturday. Temperatures are forecast to reach triple digits in the inland valleys and deserts as a high pressure “dome” lingers over California.
How hot will it get? Here are the expected daytime high temps:
Los Angeles San Fernando Valley
- Wednesday: 101
- Thursday: 102
- Friday: 105
- Saturday: 103
Inland Empire
- Wednesday: 102
- Thursday: 101
- Friday: 106
- Saturday: 107
High Desert
- Wednesday: 109
- Thursday: 110
- Friday: 114
- Saturday: 112
Los Angeles Basin
- Wednesday: 89
- Thursday: 88
- Friday: 91
- Saturday: 90
Orange County
- Wednesday: 89
- Thursday: 88
- Friday: 91
- Saturday: 92
“This Summer has the potential to be the hottest Summer on record, and the City will be taking immediate action to ensure Angelenos are safe,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who directed the opening of hundreds of cooling centers at Recreation and Parks facilities and local libraries. Tap here to find a cooling center near you.
The Weather Service advised Californians to stay out of the sun, drink plenty of fluids and check on relatives and neighbors during the heat wave.
“Take extra precautions when outside. Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke,” the NWS said in a bulletin.
Symptoms of heat stroke include a high body temperature of 103 or more, hot, red, dry or damp skin, an elevated pulse, headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion and loss of consciousness.
If someone has these symptoms, experts say to call 911 immediately, move the person to a cooler place, try to lower their body temperature with cool clothes or a cool bath, and do not give them anything to drink. Tap here for more safety tips from the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The extreme conditions were caused by a ridge of high pressure off the West Coast and a separate ridge that spawned heat warnings and advisories from Kansas and Missouri to the Gulf Coast states.
California’s capital, Sacramento, was under an excessive heat warning that was expected to last until Sunday night. Temperatures were forecast to reach between 105 and 115 degrees (40.5 and 46 Celsius).
The Associated Press contributed to this report.