Southern California forecast to sizzle until Sunday
Temperatures are likely to drop slightly on Saturday, but Southern California will be sizzling until Sunday, when onshore flows are expected to cool down most of the region, weather forecasters said Friday, April 24.
After some areas approach record-setting heat due to gusty offshore winds Friday, temperatures were expected to drop a few degrees after the winds died down Friday night, Meteorologist Kathy Hoxsie said.
However, people will want to find ways to stay cool Saturday as temperatures will remain in the low- to mid-90s in the Inland Empire and valley areas of Los Angeles County, forecasters said.
The increased temperatures have not yet had an effect on electricity. Reggie Kumar, a spokesman for Southern California Edison, said the heat wave has not caused blackouts or public safety power shutdown events.
“The system is expected to perform well and the outlook is normal during this heat wave,” Kumar said.
Public pools and some beaches remain closed due to the state’s stay-at-home orders.
“The biggest thing is avoiding outdoor activity during the hottest point of the day, typically the afternoon hours,” said Samantha Connolly, meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s San Diego office. “It’s best if you do that in the early morning or evening. Stay hydrated, stay inside if you can and if you have to be outside, wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothing.”
A heat advisory remained in effect for the Southland until 6 p.m., Saturday, forecasters said.
Some areas, including Downtown Los Angeles, Burbank and Long Beach approached record temperatures Friday. Anaheim and Irvine, were expected to reach as high as 98 degrees Friday, then drop to 91 on Saturday, Connolly said.
See also: Los Angeles opens cooling centers
In the Inland Empire, temperatures should remain in the mid-90s in areas including Riverside, Lake Elsinore, San Bernardino and Ontario, she said.
The heat wave has been fueled by a high-pressure ridge, Hoxsie said, with offshore winds adding on top of already hot temperatures.
The onshore flow, forecast for Sunday, will cool the coastal areas pretty significantly, Connolly said, while inland areas likely still will be in the mid-80s.