In case you haven’t felt it yet (maybe you’re still in the office with the AC on), the National Weather Service wants you to know the temperature may hit a high of 96 degrees today in West Hollywood, downtown Pasadena, and Van Nuys.
It will be 97 in Woodland Hills and 86 in Lancaster. In Orange County, it was expected to reach 97 in Anaheim, 96 in Irvine, 83 in Laguna Beach and 99 in Mission Viejo. The temperature may approach triple digits in other areas.
High winds had been expected throughout the morning in the mountains and the Santa Clarita Valley, but a wind advisory that was scheduled to remain in effect until noon was canceled around 9 a.m. by the NWS.
A heat advisory will be in effect until 5 p.m. in the Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area, the Los Angeles metro area including downtown, and in the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys.
Forecasters noted that hot weather can lead to illnesses, and they advised residents to be cautious while outside.
“Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun and check up on relatives and neighbors,” says the NWS. “Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Keep an extra eye out for heat-related illnesses in people playing or practicing sports or performing other strenuous activities.”
The hot and dry conditions continued to increase fears of wildfires. In the Los Angeles area, fire crews were working to get full containment of the 8,800-acre Saddleridge Fire in the northern San Fernando Valley and a 40-acre brush fire on a Pacific Palisades hillside. As of midday Tuesday, the Saddleridge Fire was 95% contained, and the Palisades fire was 10% contained.
Increasing the urgency for fire crews is the forecasted return of Santa Ana winds. Forecasters said the area will get a slight break from the heat and wind on Wednesday, but Santa Ana conditions will rage on Thursday and Friday.
According to the NWS, the winds will bring “widespread critical conditions to most of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.”
“There is still some uncertainty in the strength of the winds, but peak gusts between 40 and 60 mph is the most likely outcome,” according to the NWS. “Minimum humidities will likely lower well below 10 percent, with maximum temperatures between 87 and 97.”
A fire weather watch will be in effect from late Wednesday night through Friday evening for the bulk of the Southland, including the coastal and downtown Los Angeles areas, Santa Monica and Los Angeles County mountains, the Angeles National Forest and the Santa Clarita, San Gabriel and San Fernando valleys. The watch will also be in effect in inland Orange County.
