LOS ANGELES (CNS) – Temperatures steadily climbed upward Wednesday as what is being billed as the most significant heat wave of the summer settled over the region, promising blistering weather that will raise the danger of wildfires and heat-related illnesses into the weekend.
National Weather Service forecasters said temperatures in some Southland areas on Wednesday morning were 10 degrees higher than they were a day earlier. Most areas were expected to be about 6 degrees warmer Wednesday than they were on Tuesday.
Conditions will continue to warm in the coming days, with an extreme heat warning set to be in place from 11 a.m. Thursday to 9 p.m. Saturday for most of the area. The warning will only last until 9 p.m. Friday for coastal inland areas, including downtown Los Angeles, and for the eastern Santa Monica Mountains and Palos Verdes Hills.
The heat and dry conditions will also dramatically raise the risk of wildfires.
“Temperatures will continue to increase and peak Thursday and Friday, as a part of a long duration heat wave that will continue through Sunday,” according to the NWS. “With onshore flow expected to be weaker with this event, heat impacts will likely spread to inland portions of the coastal plain, where temperatures between 90 and 100 degrees will be likely. During the peak of the heat wave, temperatures could soar to between 98 and 110 degrees for the valleys, lower mountains, and deserts, with minimum humidities generally ranging between 8 and 20 percent.”
A red flag warning of critical fire danger took effect at 9 a.m. Wednesday and will remain in place through 9 p.m. Saturday in the Santa Clarita Valley, San Gabriel Mountains, Antelope Valley foothills and the Golden State (5) and Antelope Valley (14) freeway corridors. Those areas are expected to face “unseasonably hot high temperatures, generally 95-110 degrees and highest Thursday through Saturday,” combined with humidity levels as low as 8%, according to the NWS.
“While widespread strong winds are not anticipated with this upcoming heat wave, the hot temperatures, low humidities, increased instability, locally breezy conditions (mainly across mountains, foothills, and canyons), and critically dry fuels will bring the threat of large plume dominated fires (especially in the mountains and foothills), capable of rapid fire growth and explosive fire behavior,” according to the NWS.
Forecasters also noted that monsoon moisture will begin building Friday, primarily in the eastern San Gabriel Mountains and the Antelope Valley, generating the possibility of showers and thunderstorms.
The Los Angeles Fire Department said it is monitoring the forecast and making necessary preparations to meet emergency demands during the heat wave. LAFD added Crew 4, which is a team made up of 26 specially trained personnel who will respond to wildfires within and around the city.
Gov. Gavin Newsom also said the state had pre-deployed firefighting resources to Los Angeles County — totaling 10 fire engines, two water tenders, two bulldozers, one helicopter, two hand crews, thee dispatchers and one Incident Management Team.
Mayor Karen Bass has directed city personnel throughout Los Angeles to take all necessary steps to combat the conditions that will accompany the heat wave. “Ahead of expected high temperatures later this week, city departments are taking action to keep Angelenos safe,” Bass said in a statement. “I encourage Angelenos to stay cool, stay hydrated, check on neighbors, and know that resources are available citywide to help keep you safe.”
According to a statement from the mayor’s office, a coordinated effort to manage any heat emergencies was underway. “The Mayor’s Office of Public Safety, Emergency Management Department, LAFD, LAPD, Recreation and Parks, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and other city departments (are taking steps) to ensure all are ready to respond as needed,” according to Bass’ office.
Thursday is expected to be the hottest day of the week, with record temperatures possible in downtown Los Angeles, while Woodland Hills could hit 109 degrees, according to the NWS.
“Now is the time to adjust any plans for strenuous outdoor activities in the valleys and mountains to the cooler morning hours or for another week,” forecasters said in a statement. “If you live in a high fire danger area in the mountains or foothills, review your evacuation plans and route and stay tuned to your local emergency officials.”
“The combination of warm overnight lows and these daytime highs will result in dangerous heat condition across much of the area,” forecasters said.
Los Angeles has opened augmented cooling centers throughout the city and hundreds of locations for relief from the heat.
For locations and hours of operation, visit laparks.org/reccenter and lapl.org/branches.
The city is also opening the additional cooling centers that are accessible to people with disabilities and will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the days listed below:
From Wednesday through Saturday:
— Canoga Park Senior Citizen Center, 7326 Jordan Ave.; and
— North Hollywood Senior Citizen Center, 5301 Tujunga Ave.
From Thursday through Friday:
— Pecan Recreation Center, 145 S. Pecan St., Los Angeles; and
— Algin Sutton Recreation Center, 8800 S. Hoover St., Los Angeles.
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