Another Heat Wave Descends on Southland; Fire Risk Elevated

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Another heat wave will drive up temperatures across the Southland starting Thursday, accompanied by the chance of thunderstorms and raising the risk of lightning-sparked wildfires.

The National Weather Service issued a fire weather watch that will take effect at noon Thursday and remain in place until 8 p.m. Friday in the Santa Clarita Valley, Antelope Valley, San Gabriel Mountains, Antelope Valley foothills and the 5 and 14 Freeway corridors.

Forecasters said the fire risk is based on the possibility of "dry thunderstorms" that will produce little precipitation but could lead to lightning strikes.

"While the risk for thunderstorms will be present anytime from Thursday afternoon through Friday evening, the most likely time window for thunderstorms will be 8 p.m. Thursday evening through 7 a.m. Friday morning, and again 1 p.m. Friday afternoon through 7 p.m. Friday evening," according to the NWS. "Thunderstorms will be high-based, and some will produce little to no precipitation, with lightning strikes being capable of igniting fires especially on the peripheries of precipitation cores.

"Thunderstorms will also be capable of producing gusty, erratic outflow winds, gusting upwards of 45 to 60 mph on a localized basis. With recent extended heat waves, contributing to significant drying of fuels, a significant fire-weather risk will exist Thursday afternoon through Friday evening."

The high pressure system bringing the heat to the area is expected to remain in place through much of next week, with temperatures slowly increasing daily. The increases could lead "to dangerous and significant heat risks across the interior by as early as Saturday or Sunday and lasting for several days," according to the NWS.

Forecasters said that by Sunday or Monday, temperatures in the Antelope Valley and some other areas, will approach 110, while warmer coastal valleys will be in the area of 105 degrees -- about 10 degrees above normal.

As usual, the coast will be the best place to avoid the heat, with temperatures only rising about one to three degrees above normal, according to the NWS.