Your SoCal weather report for Wednesday, July 17: Southland will see excessive heat over next few days

The good news — it's Wednesday and National Hot Dog Day. The not so good news: we've entered the next heatwave.

Coastal areas will see highs between 72 to 76 degrees today with mostly sunny skies this afternoon. Inland coast including inland Orange County will see highs in the low 80s.

Forecasters say to be careful at the beaches as the waters will be rather choppy with strong rip currents and high surf. These conditions will linger until Thursday evening.

Moving inland — the valleys will warm up today with daytime highs as low as 89 degrees, up to 96 degrees for Western San Fernando Valley and Santa Clarita area. It will be warmer in the Inland Empire with some areas reaching up to 100 degrees.

High deserts will see highs between 98 to 108 degrees, and up to 112 in Coachella Valley.

Tonight's lows will drop to the mid 60s, 70s for the deserts.

About the heat

Forecasters say that the excessive heat will hit the Southland come Friday morning through July 24. Expect temperatures to reach up to 105 degrees for mountains and valleys. Meanwhile initial forecast models show the heatwave will affect the deserts during the weekend for now, with daytime highs up to 117 degrees for the low desert.

This day in history

On this day in 1955, Disneyland opened up for the first time in Anaheim to customers.

Things to do

• Southern-Inspired, Plant-Based Chef’s Dinner: Crossroads Melrose chef Tal Ronnen is bringing chefs Keith Corbin and Daniel Patterson from Alta Adams to the restaurant for a plant-based Southern cuisine feast. The four-course menu is $75 per person; highlights include deviled eggs, heirloom tomato & peach salad, barbecue lion’s mane mushrooms, candied yam gratin, collard greens, and more.

Check out our full list of things to do this week.