Southern California late-summer heat wave likely to hit its peak Friday

The dangerous heat wave gripping Southern California this week will likely peak on Friday as temperatures across the region will far exceed 100 degrees, meteorologists say.

Several Excessive Heat Warnings have been issued in the Southland, including in parts of the San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Mountains and High Desert. Those warnings are in effect until Monday night, when temperatures are expected to begin to cool down.

“These are dangerously hot conditions,” said KTLA weather anchor Kirk Hawkins. “So please watch out for your pets, the elderly and stay as hydrated as you can.”

In addition to the heat warnings, officials said the likelihood of wildfires rises with the hot, dry conditions.

High temperatures in Southern California were expected to be the highest of the heat wave and, in some cases, the highest of the year. Highs included 118 degrees in the San Fernando Valley, 104 in downtown Los Angeles, 103 in inland Orange County, 113 in the Inland Empire and 108 in the High Desert.

“The problem is that it takes almost two weeks of slowly acclimating to a hot temperature like this for a body of an athlete to tolerate it,” said Dr. Diana Lev of Dignity Health. “So our issue is we don’t have 14 days. We suddenly got this overnight and it’s even hot overnight.”

More mild weather early in the week suddenly became a blazing heat wave, the hottest of the summer yet. Temperatures exceeded 100 degrees in most of inland Southern California on Thursday, and Friday was expected to be even hotter.

Complete relief from the heat wave wasn’t expected until next Thursday when temperatures are predicted to be in the lower 80s and high 70s in most of inland Southern California.

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