Southern California faces hottest week of the year

Southern California is bracing for a stretch of extreme heat, with conditions expected to peak during the hottest week of the year. The National Weather Service has issued heat advisories and expects record-level temperatures in multiple areas as warm nights and high humidity add to discomfort, as reported by NBC Los Angeles and FOX 11. The advisory covers parts of Orange County, the Inland Empire, and the San Bernardino and Riverside County mountains through Monday, according to NBC Los Angeles.

The report said daytime heat, warm nights, and monsoonal moisture are expected to make conditions especially uncomfortable. Temperatures are forecast to stay high through the weekend before climbing again Tuesday through Thursday, NBC Los Angeles reported. Downtown Los Angeles is expected in the lower 90s this weekend, with forecasts of 91 on Saturday, 93 on Sunday, and 96 on Tuesday.

If Los Angeles reaches the 90s, inland communities could see triple-digit temperatures, NBC Los Angeles said. The report also forecast generally 80s along the coast, while inland areas and parts of the Los Angeles Basin range from the 90s to triple digits.

Anaheim is expected to reach 95 degrees and Irvine 92, NBC Los Angeles reported. Oxnard and Ventura were forecast around 81 degrees, while the Inland Empire was expected to see triple-digit temperatures throughout the week. An extreme heat warning is in effect for the low desert, and Palm Springs is expected to experience triple-digit temperatures through Friday, NBC Los Angeles said.

FOX 11 reported the National Weather Service has issued heat advisories and expects conditions to become extreme heat warnings by mid-week. The station said the forecast includes hot and humid air with light winds, along with a renewed critical fire weather risk from the extreme heat. FOX 11 projected a peak period where downtown Los Angeles could hit 100°F, with valley locations reaching 106°F to 112°F or higher during Wednesday and Thursday. The report said Sunday and early week conditions are driven by high pressure over Southern California, with humid conditions persisting.

According to Los Angeles Times climate scientist Daniel Swain, this summer’s most punishing aspect has been record-warm nights and Miami-level humidity rather than peak daytime highs. Swain said warm nights can prolong stress on the human body by depriving recovery time, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. The Los Angeles Times reported Swain tied coastal conditions to the record warmth of the near-shore ocean and said warmer water temperatures help keep nights from cooling. The same article said the dew point has been closer to 70 degrees than 60 for much of the summer, and cited readings above 70 in some cases.