Los Angeles could hit 90 F for the first time since November as the hottest air since 2021 builds over the southwestern U.S. late this week.
A wave of warmth is set to build over the western United States from Wednesday to Saturday, putting multiple records at risk of being broken and increasing the fire threat as temperatures climb well above average.
By Wednesday, temperatures in portions of Southern California and southwest Arizona are forecast to surge upwards of 90 degrees Fahrenheit, including heavily populated regions west of the San Gabriel, San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains. Downtown Los Angeles is expected to climb past 90 F for the first time since Nov. 13, 2021.
“Temperatures across California will jump about 10 degrees from Tuesday into Wednesday; however, they will peak on Thursday and Friday at around 20 degrees above average,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Heather Zehr said.
Multiple locations spanning from the Sacramento Valley to San Diego will soar high enough to threaten daytime high records on Thursday and Friday.
Forecasters say that temperatures will range from 95 to 105 degrees F across much of Southern California during the peak daytime heating hours Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Heat advisories have been issued across portions of Ventura County, the Santa Clarita Valley and San Fernando Valley for 11 a.m. PDT Wednesday through 6 p.m. PDT Friday ahead of the building heat.
The flow of warm air pushing across the Southwest will not only challenge daily records but will also heighten the risk of wildfires. Gusty Santa Ana winds are expected to develop from Tuesday to Thursday, further exacerbating the fire danger.
