The buildup is over; today (Wednesday) is the day that triple-digit temperatures and dangerous fire conditions spread across much of Southern California.
“We’ve been talking about this. We’re going to go a good 10 degrees above the average, maybe 12 degrees above the average,” KTLA Meteorologist Henry DiCarlo said Wednesday morning. “We’re going to be flirting with record temperatures. Not only during the day, but during the nighttime as well.”
The National Weather Service (NWS) is predicting a “multi-day heat event” that will begin on Wednesday and continue through Saturday.
The NWS has issued a series of extreme heat warnings, heat advisories and red flag warnings due to the heat wave.
The extreme heat warnings will continue in most areas until Saturday evening for temperatures ranging from the mid-90s up to 110 degrees.
The NWS says there is also a chance of thunderstorms over the mountains and possibly some valley locations during the afternoon hours on Friday through Sunday.
“We’re not talking about a great risk of widespread rain … but we also get lightning strikes,” Henry said. “To have heat, thunderstorms and winds, definitely dangerous conditions … the risk of fires will be elevated.”
A slight cooldown will arrive on Sunday, with temperatures dropping another degree or two on Monday but remaining above average.
“We have to go to Tuesday of next week before we really find temperatures getting back to the average,” Henry said.