SoCal heat wave continues; cooling centers opened in LA

The latest summer heat wave was still hovering over Southern California on Monday, as temperatures reach the upper 90s and triple digits throughout the region.

Monday and Tuesday were forecast to be the hottest days. A National Weather Service Heat Advisory will stay in effect until 8 p.m. Tuesday in the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys, the San Gabriel Mountains and the 5 Freeway corridor, which can expect temperatures ranging from 95 to 105 degrees.

A heat advisory was also in effect for the Santa Ana mountains and Orange County foothill areas until 11 p.m. Tuesday, with temperatures in the mid-90s to 102, according to the NWS.

To avoid suffering the effects of dehydration and heat stroke, health officials said people should avoid the sun when possible, not do strenuous activity or exercise, drink lots of water and never leave children or pets inside vehicles, which can turn fatally hot in a short time during extreme heat.

Downtown LA will be about 90 degrees through Wednesday, when a slight break from the heat wave was forecast, while Lancaster in the high desert could reach as high as 109 Monday and Tuesday.

Areas of the western San Fernando Valley and Santa Clarita Valley are also expected to see triple-digits, and Pasadena temperatures could climb to 100 degrees Monday and Tuesday before falling to 92 on Wednesday, forecasters said.

Dedicated cooling centers in Los Angeles will be open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at:

• Lincoln Heights Senior Citizen Center;

• Lake View Terrace Recreation Center;

• Mid Valley Senior Citizen Center;

• Fred Roberts Recreation Center; and

• Jim Gilliam Recreation Center.

In addition to cooling centers, most parks, recreation facilities and the more than 70 branch libraries can help people get out of the heat.

More information on cooling centers is at Emergency.LACity.gov/Updates.

Inland Empire

An Excessive Heat Warning remained in effect Monday for all of the Inland Empire, as temperatures surpassed 110 degrees in many areas of Riverside County.

The warning specified the San Bernardino and Riverside County valleys — the Inland Empire — including the cities of Fontana, Riverside, Moreno Valley, San Bernardino, Rancho Cucamonga, Corona and Ontario. It also include desert areas of San Diego County.

Highs will soar to 116 degrees in Palm Springs on Monday, 115 on Tuesday and on Wednesday 112, according to the NWS. Hemet was expected to hit 108 on Monday, reducing to 101 Wednesday. Overnight lows were forecast near 90 degrees.

Downtown Riverside had a forecast of 105 on Monday, 102 on Tuesday and dropping to 98 Wednesday, with nighttime lows 70s.

Cooling centers in Palm Springs are available at Demuth Community Center, James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center and the Palm Springs Public Library. More information is at EngagePalmSprings.com.

A ridge of high pressure moving westward from the Four Corners region kept Southern California sweltering last weekend and into this week, according to the NWS. The high pressure will suppress monsoonal moisture until the middle of the week with the chance of scattered thunderstorms in the Coachella Valley and the mountain areas near Anza and Idyllwild.