Heat wave brings ‘real’ summer to Southern California

LOS ANGELES — A heat wave that is expected to last several days will begin washing over Southern California on Thursday.

The warmest communities Thursday will be Woodland Hills and Santa Clarita, each expected to have highs of 97 degrees.

Meteorologists attribute the heat wave to an upper-level ridge of high pressure anchored this morning near the Four Corners Region — southwestern corner of Colorado, southeastern corner of Utah, northeastern corner of Arizona and northwestern corner of New Mexico — combined with a weakening onshore flow.

“Dangerously hot conditions are possible Friday and Saturday” away from the coast, according to a National Weather Statement. “Onshore flow should strengthen early next week and bring a cooling trend.” An extended temperature forecast, however, reflects very little cooling.

The NWS forecast a combination of sunny and partly cloudy skies in LA County Thursday with highs of 73 degrees in Avalon and Torrance; 74 at LAX; 75 in San Pedro; 83 in Long Beach and downtown LA; 87 on Mount Wilson; 89 in San Gabriel; 90 in Whittier; 91 in Burbank, North Hollywood and West Covina; 92 in Pasadena; 93 in Studio City and Sherman Oaks; 94 in Van Nuys; 96 in Northridge and Reseda; 97 in Santa Clarita and Woodland Hills; and 101 in Palmdale and Lancaster. Similar and higher temperatures will prevail at least through Wednesday.

Cooler temperatures will prevail in Orange County, where the NWS forecast sunny skies and highs of 72 in Laguna Beach; 73 in San Clemente and Newport Beach; 80 on Santiago Peak; 84 in Santa Ana; 86 on Ortega Highway at 2,600 feet; 87 in Irvine; 88 in Fullerton; 89 in Fremont Canyon Mission Viejo, Yorba Linda and Anaheim; and 90 in Trabuco Canyon. Similar temperatures are forecast through Wednesday.