Weather forecast for Tuesday, Sept. 3
The latest forecast for the greater Los Angeles area, including beaches, valleys and desert regions.
LOS ANGELES – While the official start of fall is just weeks away, September is off to a scorching start in Southern California with a brutal heat wave set to last over the next several days.
The peak of the heat wave is expected Tuesday through Friday with forecast highs to reach the 80s along the coast, the 90s in several inland communities, and triple digits in the valleys, foothills, and the Inland Empire.
In anticipation of the heat wave, the National Weather Service (NWS) has planned to issue a heat alert for the greater majority of the Southland.
During the heat wave, the NWS is reminding people that the homeless, elderly, pregnant, and children are at the highest risk for heat illness.
RELATED COVERAGE: LIST: Los Angeles cooling centers open during California heat wave
Weather Alerts
Excessive Heat Watch
An Excessive Heat Watch goes into effect Wednesday at 11 a.m. through Friday at 9 p.m. in the Inland Empire with the return of triple-digit heat. Residents are asked to stay in air-conditioned rooms, to stay hydrated and to limit their time outdoors.
The same warning also goes into effect for many Southern California communities in Los Angeles, Ventura and Orange counties, including Beverly Hills, Lancaster, Pyramid Lake, Valencia, Los Angeles, Compton, Culver City, East LA, Glendale, Hollywood, Simi Valley, Okai, Pomona, Pasadena, areas along the Angeles Crest Highway.
This also applies to inland areas in Orange County, including Anaheim, Santa Ana, Mission Viejo, Fullerton, Orange, Irvine and Garden Grove.
An excessive heat warning will be in effect from 11 a.m. Wednesday to 8 p.m. Friday for Orange County inland areas and the Santa Ana Mountains and Foothills, with temperatures possibly reaching 105 degrees.
An excessive heat warning went into effect Tuesday morning in the western San Fernando Valley, and will remain until 8 p.m. Friday. According to the NWS, Thursday and Friday are predicted to be the hottest days in that area, with temperatures ranging as high as 113 degrees.
How long will the heat wave last?
The heat wave is expected to last over the next several days.
SoCal cooling centers open as temps soar
City and county officials across SoCal are helping residents escape the heat by opening cooling centers amid a prevailing heat wave.
Officials warned the public to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun and check up on relatives and neighbors.
Residents were also urged to never leave children or pets in unattended vehicles, which can reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.
The hot, dry weather will also create elevated fire conditions across the mountains, valleys and deserts throughout the week.