“Today is your coolest day of the week,” KTLA Meteorologist Henry DiCarlo warned Southern California Monday as residents braced for a heat wave forecast to arrive this week and linger through the weekend.
“We knew temperatures would be warm and above average but it looks like we are really going to see them soaring on the Fourth of July and beyond,” Henry said.
A pair of high-pressure systems will control the weather over the region for at least the next seven days.
“It’s going to give us an offshore flow and it’s going to warm us up, dry us out,” Henry said. “By the end of the week, we’re looking for a big warmup for many of our inland valleys.”
The National Weather Service has issued excessive heat warnings from Wednesday morning through Sunday night for the San Fernando Valley and southwestern Ventura County valleys.
A heat warning is also in effect through Monday night for parts of the Antelope, Apple, Lucerne and Coachella valleys.
Temperatures through the week:
- Deserts: 102-116
- Mountains: 100-112
- Valleys: 98-108
- Coastal Plain: 80-94
“Even the mountain communities will see 90-degree temperatures this week,” Henry said, but did point out that highs will remain in the 80s at some locations along the coast.
The Weather Service warned residents about “elevated to brief critical fire weather conditions due to hot conditions and low humidity.”
Firefighters responded quickly to gain the upper hand on the 400 acre “Sierra Fire” that broke out in San Bernardino County over the weekend.
“Be careful with any potential fire ignition sources, including 4th of July fireworks,” the Weather Service stated.