Southern California is under the grip of a severe heat wave, with temperatures expected to soar to dangerous levels this week. The region is also facing hazardous surf conditions due to the remnants of Tropical Storm Elida. Residents are being urged to take precautions to stay safe during this extreme weather event.
The heat wave is expected to peak on Thursday, with temperatures reaching 8 to 12 degrees above normal. The muggy conditions are limiting overnight cooling, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has issued an extreme heat warning, citing both daytime temperatures and unusually warm overnight conditions.
Extreme Temperatures and Heat Advisories
Valley areas are expected to reach triple digits, with Woodland Hills hitting 105 or 106 degrees. Beaches will also be warmer than usual due to unseasonably warm ocean water temperatures driven by El Niño. A heat advisory is in effect for many areas, including the beaches of Los Angeles and Ventura counties and the southern coast of Santa Barbara County, through 8 a.m. Monday.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has extended the hours of cooling centers in the Antelope Valley, where temperatures are expected to reach 100 to 108 degrees. The department has also issued an extreme heat warning for residents of many areas, citing both daytime temperatures and unusually warm overnight conditions. Hotter nights can prolong the stress that heat places on the human body, increasing the risk of heat-related illness.
Fire Weather Conditions and Power Grid Stress
Forecasters have also warned of the risk of fast-spreading fires, with elevated to brief critical fire weather conditions expected across Southern California’s valley, mountain, and desert areas through Monday. Southern Santa Barbara County is also expected to see dry, gusty sundowner winds in the evenings through Thursday.
Hot temperatures can place added stress on the power grid, especially during peak hours, due to the need to run air conditioners. Southern California Edison is monitoring the situation but expects the grid to be reliable this summer. The utility has added 1,500 megawatts of battery storage over the past year, which has made a significant difference. Customers are encouraged to cut back their energy use between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. and sign up for demand response programs, which provide incentives for doing so.
Hazardous Surf Conditions
The remnants of Tropical Storm Elida are sending hazardous surf and strong rip currents to Southern California beaches. The surf is expected to peak Thursday and Friday with heights of 4 to 8 feet at south-facing beaches along the Central Coast and Ventura and Los Angeles counties. The weather service has issued a beach hazards statement, warning of an increased risk of ocean drowning through Sunday. People should either stay out of the water or swim near lifeguards and avoid rock jetties, which can be deadly in such conditions.
The ongoing marine heat wave off Southern California may also be playing a factor in the rise in relative humidity in the Los Angeles, Central Coast, and the San Francisco Bay areas. Ocean temperatures in the L.A. County area are well into the 70s, which is unusual for any time of year, but especially for mid-to-late July.
