Southern Californians made it through the worst of the heat wave by Wednesday afternoon, with slightly cooler temperatures expected for Thursday and Friday. Woodland Hills sizzled at 95 degrees on Wednesday, one of the hottest temperatures in Los Angeles County. Fortunately, the mercury didn’t quite reach record-breaking levels, according to National Weather Service Meteorologist Rose Schoenfeld. The heat advisory for the Los Angeles area expired on Wednesday evening, giving residents a bit of relief.
Inland areas bore the brunt of the extreme heat this week, with Palm Springs hitting a scorching 104 degrees on Wednesday afternoon. Meanwhile, Blythe in eastern Riverside County climbed to a sweltering 102 degrees. Thursday is predicted to still be above average in the Los Angeles area, with temperatures in the low 80s along the coast and creeping into the 90s in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys. However, by Friday, a low pressure system is set to move in, bringing back the familiar May gray and cooler temperatures.
The return of May gray is triggered by onshore breezes that push cool, moist air from the Pacific Ocean further inland, resulting in persistent cloud cover. Looking ahead, there’s a possibility of another heatwave by the middle of next week, but forecasters are unsure of how intense it will be. The recent scorching weather heightened the risk of fires in tall grass and brush areas across the region. On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Fire Department swiftly responded to a 4-acre brush fire in the Sepulveda Basin, which caused minor burns to one person and disrupted Metro bus service temporarily. Despite the breezy onshore winds, the region is not under a red flag alert due to recent rains reducing the risk of widespread wildfires. However, as temperatures continue to rise throughout the summer, grasses and brush will dry out, becoming ideal fuel for wildfires. It’s crucial for the public to start preparing for the next fire season by safeguarding their homes, families, and having evacuation plans in place.
