Extreme heat, power shutoff warnings threatening Southern California this week: Timeline
Extreme heat hits Southern California through Friday
Southern California faces a prolonged heat wave through Friday with gusty winds, dropping humidity, and Red Flag warnings across northern Los Angeles County.
LOS ANGELES - Southern California remains in the grips of an extended summer heat wave as rising temperatures, gusty winds, and low humidity create extreme conditions across the region.
Public safety agencies are warning of heightened wildfire risks, potential power shutoffs, and severe heat hazards impacting communities from coastal regions to interior valleys.
Record-breaking heat wave
What we know:
An extreme heat warning is in effect across the bulk of the region until 8 p.m. Friday, marking what forecasters describe as the hottest stretch of the summer.
The National Weather Service (NWS) expects the peak of the heat event over three days, with temperatures reaching 100 to 106 degrees in lower mountain elevations, valleys, and far interior areas, while the western San Fernando Valley could see highs between 106 and 112 degrees.
Inland coastal areas and beaches face triple-digit heat up to 102 degrees, accompanied by elevated overnight lows in the 70s.
When the month ends, this stretch is likely to end up as Los Angeles’ hottest combined July and August on record since tracking began in the 1870s.
Record-breaking heat began on Monday, when downtown Los Angeles hit 98 degrees to top a 1931 record of 96 degrees. Long Beach reached 97 degrees, breaking a 2010 benchmark.
In Orange County, Anaheim reached 98 degrees and Santa Ana climbed to 100 degrees, both tying historical records.
Extreme heat warnings cover Orange County inland areas and mountain foothills through Friday evening, alongside a less severe heat advisory along the coast.
A Red Flag warning for critical fire danger remains active from 10 a.m. Tuesday through 3 p.m. Friday across the San Gabriel Mountains and the 5 and 14 freeway corridors in northern Los Angeles County.
Gusty afternoon winds peaking at 20-30 mph and humidity dropping into single digits are creating dangerous conditions similar to those that historically fueled major regional wildfires like the Station, Bobcat, and Bridge fires.
Timeline:
The extreme heat warning remains active through 8 p.m. Friday, with forecasters identifying Wednesday and Thursday as potential peak days for the region's highest temperatures.
The Red Flag warning for northern Los Angeles County and the San Gabriel Mountains began at 10 a.m. Tuesday and extends through 3 p.m. Friday.
Relief is anticipated as forecasters project a gradual drop in temperatures heading into next week.
What they're saying:
According to the NWS, "An extended period of very hot and dry conditions will bring widespread elevated to brief critical fire weather conditions away from the immediate coast through this weekend."
Forecasters emphasized the heightened danger, noting that "The combination of triple-digit temperatures, very deep mixing heights of 12,000 to 20,000 feet, locally gusty winds, low humidities, and fuels approaching critical levels will bring the highest risk of large plume-dominated fires with rapid spread in the interior mountains and adjacent foothills, as well as the Cuyama Valley, resulting in the Red Flag Warning issuance Tuesday through Friday."
Weather Forecast for Tuesday, August 25
The latest forecast and air quality conditions for the greater Los Angeles area, including beaches, valleys and desert regions.
According to the NWS, the next three days will be "the peak of the heat event," and that in addition to daytime highs running 10 to 15 degrees above normal, the overnight lows will also be 6 to 12 degrees above normal .
What's next:
The Los Angeles Fire Department and Los Angeles County Fire Department have augmented staffing and pre-positioned specialized personnel and equipment throughout the county to ensure rapid response times to potential wildfires.
At the same time, Southern California Edison warned nearly 4,000 customers in Los Angeles County—primarily around Malibu, the Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area, Castaic, and Sandberg—that precautionary Public Safety Power Shutoffs may be initiated to prevent electrical equipment from sparking fires.
Beachgoers seeking relief are advised to exercise caution, as firefighters warn that elevated surf conditions and strong rip currents create significant drowning risks along the coast.
What you can do:
Health authorities advise residents to stay hydrated, remain indoors in air-conditioned spaces, limit sun exposure during peak daylight hours, and check on vulnerable relatives and neighbors.
Officials strictly warn that children and pets must never be left unattended in parked vehicles under any circumstances, as interior vehicle temperatures reach lethal levels within minutes.
For residents needing relief from the heat, cooling centers, county pools, and splash pads are open across the region.
The Source: This report is based on information provided by FOX 11 meteorologist Adam Kreuger, the National Weather Service, the Los Angeles Fire Department, regional health officials, and Southern California Edison. City News Service contributed.