Heat continues to bake parts of SoCal

Two more record highs were set in the Antelope Valley in an early autumn heat wave that has gripped Southern California, but temperatures are expected to cool off slightly Friday.

It was 104 at Palmdale Airport on Thursday, breaking the record for the day of 100 set in 1980. It was 104 in Lancaster, breaking the record for the day of 100 set in 1980. It was the third day in a row record highs were reported in Palmdale and Lancaster.

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It was 92 in Sandberg, tying the record for the day set in 2020.

The beaches remained the place to be, with morning fog and evening clouds keeping coastal temperatures in check. Inland areas, however, were bearing the brunt of the early autumn heat.

"Strong high pressure over the region will bring hot conditions to the area through Thursday," according to the National Weather Service. "Dangerously hot temperatures will be common across many valley, mountain, and inland areas. Slight cooling will occur on Thursday and Friday, then another warming trend will develop over the weekend."

On Wednesday, it was 111 in Woodland Hills, breaking the record for the day of 109 set in 1991.

It was 105 at Palmdale Airport, breaking the record for the day of 101 set in 2020. It was 104 at Lancaster Fox Field, breaking the record for the day of 101 set in 2012. It was 97 in Sandberg, breaking the record for the day of 93 set in 2020.

Temperature records have been falling in some areas all week. On Tuesday, it reached 113 degrees in Woodland Hills, breaking the record for the day of 110 set in 1980. It was also the hottest day on record in October in Woodland Hills, breaking the mark of 110.

It was 104 at Palmdale Airport on Tuesday, breaking the record for the day of 100 set in 1980. It was 103 in Lancaster, breaking the record for the day of 100 set in 2020. It was 95 in Sandberg, breaking the record for the day of 92 set in 1980.

A red flag warning of critical fire danger conditions will be in effect until 8 p.m. Thursday for the western San Gabriel Mountains and the 5 and 14 Freeway corridors, thanks to the anticipated heat, gusty northeast winds and low humidity.

Forecasters said additional cooling is expected Friday across the area -- although it will still likely be 5 to 10 degrees above normal in areas away from the coast.

"The bad news is that hotter temperatures are expected for the weekend as high pressure builds back in from the southeast and onshore flow weakens," according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters noted that the weekend heat will be "not as severe" as the current temperatures, but many areas will likely fall under excessive heat watches or warnings.

"Sunday and Monday are expected to the warmest days of this next heat wave, but again likely topping out at least 3-5 degrees lower than the ongoing heat wave as models indicate the air mass over the weekend isn't as warm as the current heat wave," according to the NWS.

Forecaster said "much cooler weather" is anticipated beginning Tuesday and continuing through the rest of next week.

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