Southern California heat advisory extended as Palm Springs nears 118 degrees
NWS warns of extreme temperatures in Palm Springs, Las Vegas, and Death Valley; fire risk remains elevated.
Currently, Southern California is suffering from a heat wave which has caused the National Weather Service to extend a heat advisory into Wednesday evening. Inland areas across Orange County, inland empire, and parts of San Diego County remain under alert for potential high temperatures which could reach triple digits.
All across the area, cities are expected to have dangerous highs: Palm Springs could see a high of 118°F, Palmdale could be 100°F, San Bernardino could more or less also be 100°F. All of which is concerning to forecasters who urge you to stay hydrated, find air conditioning, monitor vulnerable people, and watch for heat illness.
Extreme heat across the region
A heat advisory remains in effect until about Saturday for almost all of inland Southern California, from Anaheim, Irvine, and Santa Ana eastward to some of the biggest cities in inland Southern California, such as Riverside, San Bernardino, and Lake Elsinore. Forecasters say temperatures could reach 103 in Palmdale and slightly less in other parts of the region. Interior areas will be hot while coastal areas will be much cooler, with Santa Barbara predicted to only reach 78 and downtown Los Angeles forecasted in the high 80s.
Also, the National Weather Service issued “extreme heat warnings” for parts of Nevada and California, including the Mojave Desert and Death Valley.The hardest-hit areas of Las Vegas could experience temperatures of 116 and 113 through Thursday night. Experts say the intense heat is being caused by a high-pressure system stationed over the valley.
Fire risk and cooler weather ahead
Fire danger is increasing as we've had hot, dry and windy conditions which heighten the risk of wildfires in some parts of the state. There are elevated risk areas including the Grapevine along Interstate 5 and mountain ranges in Ventura County, the Antelope Valley and dry interior valleys of San Luis Obispo County. There is also a fire weather watch for Thursday into Friday in portions of Northern California and western Nevada, including Mammoth Lakes and Bridgeport.
Highs on Tuesday were already above 100°F in several inland locations, including Woodland Hills at 102°F and Palm Springs at 115°F. Even cities farther south, such as Escondido and Santa Ana experienced heat. However, relief is likely to come by Thursday - Juneteenth - with temperatures trending downward as the current weather pattern changes.
