Tuesday, 28 July 2026, 9:59
A major heat wave is set to broil Southern California’s interior this week, pushing temperatures into the triple digits and raising serious health and fire risks. According to the National Weather Service in Oxnard, the warming trend will peak by Wednesday, with highs ranging from 90 to 105 degrees across most inland areas away from the coast. In Los Angeles County, the San Fernando Valley will see the most extreme heat: Woodland Hills could hit 110°F, while the Antelope Valley may near 110°F and Santa Clarita reach 105–106°F. Overnight lows will remain in the 70s, providing little relief and increasing the danger of heat illness.
Southern California is expected to see its hottest days of the year this week, when a blistering heat wave will send temperatures soaring above 100 degrees in some areas. Temperatures were expected to climb, peaking on Wednesday and Thursday before dropping back to more typical summertime levels heading into the weekend, according to the National Weather Service. The Weather Service said extreme heat watches “will almost certainly become warnings on Tuesday for most areas except possibly along the immediate coast and (continue) through Thursday, though there is a 20-30% chance that warnings will extend to the coast as well.” Highs are expected to reach triple digits in parts of the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys on Wednesday and on Thursday — with Wednesday likely seeing the highest numbers. Forecasters are calling for highs of 87 and 91 degrees in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday and Thursday. In Lancaster, those highs will be 103 and 100, and in Van Nuys, highs of 101 and 95 degrees are expected mid-week. Wednesday’s highs will be about 105 degrees in downtown Riverside, 101 in Temecula and 106 in Hemet, the Weather Service said. By Wednesday, Huntington Beach could reach 80 degrees, Fullerton around 98 and Santa Ana about 93 degrees. Some inland portions of Orange County, such as Fullerton and Yorba Linda, could hover close to triple-digits. Ontario could reach a high of 105, with San Bernardino getting 107 degrees by Wednesday, forecasters said. On Thursday, temperatures could decrease about two to five degrees and then return to normal across the region by Friday.
Extreme heat warnings have been issued for multiple areas including Riverside County Mountains, Santa Ana Mountains, Orange County Inland, San Bernardino County Mountains, and the Inland Empire, starting Tuesday and Wednesday. According to the NWS, "only a slight cool down" is expected this weekend before temperatures start rising again next week.
Los Angeles County was placed under an updated extreme heat warning by the National Weather Service on Monday at 8:40 p.m. The warning is valid from Tuesday 10 a.m. until Thursday July 16, at 8 p.m. "Temperatures of 90 to 110 degrees, hottest on Wednesday and over interior areas," can be expected according to the NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA. "Humid conditions will add to the heat to potentially worsen heat impacts. Effects of the heat will build through the week, with warm overnight low temperatures providing little relief from the heat." The full list of affected locations includes: Western Santa Monica Mountains Recreational area, Eastern Santa Monica Mountains Recreational area, Calabasas/Agoura Hills, Western Antelope Valley Foothills, Eastern Antelope Valley Foothills, Antelope Valley, Santa Barbara County Southwestern Coast, Santa Barbara County Southeastern Coast, Santa Ynez Mountains Western Range, Santa Ynez Mountains Eastern Range, Lake Casitas, Ojai Valley, Central Ventura County Valleys, and Southeastern Ventura County Valleys.
Compared with Monday, temperatures on Tuesday across much of the Los Angeles Basin should climb 3 to 6 degrees, and as much as 8 to 10 degrees in the Antelope Valley, according to the weather service’s morning forecast. The extreme heat warning stretches across the foothills between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties and inland deserts.
According to the weather service’s Monday forecast discussion, this warming trend “will give way to dangerous heat by mid week,” with temperatures climbing from San Luis Obispo County down to the border in San Diego County. Widespread heat advisories have been issued for much of the region through Friday, with the exception of beach cities. Beginning Tuesday morning, an extreme heat watch will go into effect, when officials warn of “dangerously hot conditions with temperatures of 95 to 105 possible.”
Southern Californians aren’t the only ones who will be looking for ways to escape the heat this week, though. According to the National Weather Service’s Hanford station, areas from the Central Coast inland to the Sierra will be under a heat advisory through Thursday. As monsoonal moisture moves through, there’s a 30% chance of thunderstorms in the high desert and a 10% chance of dry lightning, the station said in its Monday forecast. There will be moderate to major heat risks Tuesday and Wednesday. Farther north in the Bay Area, residents should expect temperatures in the 90s and some hot spots creeping into the 100s with little relief from the heat overnight, the National Weather Service said. Though the Sacramento Valley won’t be so hot as to warrant a heat advisory, there will be elevated fire conditions in the mountains, where there’s the possibility of isolated thunderstorms, dry lightning and gusty winds, said Bakari Anderson, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Sacramento.
Southern California will face its hottest day of the year Wednesday as temperatures soar into the triple digits across much of the region and forecasters warn that dangerous heat will continue through Thursday. An extreme heat warning took effect at 10 a.m. Tuesday for much of Los Angeles County and will remain in place through 8 p.m. Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. The warning covers the valleys, mountains and inland portions of the coastal plain, where temperatures are expected to range from the 90s to as high as 110 degrees during the peak of the heat event Wednesday and Thursday. A heat advisory will remain in effect through Thursday evening for coastal areas, including Los Angeles County beaches and the Palos Verdes Hills, where temperatures could still climb well into the 80s and 90s, forecasters said. An extreme heat warning will also be in place for inland Orange County areas from 10 a.m. Wednesday to 8 p.m. Thursday, with a heat advisory in place during the same time frame for Orange County coastal areas. “Wednesday will be the warmest day with another 3 to 6 degrees of warming on tap for the entire area,” according to the NWS. “This warming will bring 100- to 110-degree heat to the valleys, lower mountain elevations and the far interior on Wednesday. The increase in onshore flow will bring some cooling on Thursday, but not enough to eliminate the heat risk.” Forecasters warned that lingering monsoonal moisture will boost humidity levels and make conditions feel even more uncomfortable. That moisture could also lead to rain, with forecasters saying there will be a 20% to 40% chance of showers or thunderstorms in the mountains and Antelope Valley. A red flag warning of critical fire danger conditions will be in place from noon Wednesday through 9 a.m. Thursday for the 5 Freeway corridor in Los Angeles County, thanks to the combination of strong northwest to north winds, high heat and low relative humidity. Overnight temperatures will offer little relief, with lows Wednesday night expected to remain in the lower 70s in many communities, increasing the risk of heat-related illness. Temperatures are expected to gradually ease heading into the weekend as the onshore flow strengthens and cloud cover increases, although conditions are expected to remain above normal through at least Friday, forecasters said. Authorities urged residents to drink plenty of water, limit outdoor activities during the hottest parts of the day, seek air-conditioned shelter when possible and check on elderly relatives, neighbors and others vulnerable to heat illness.
On Wednesday, the temperature in downtown L.A. reached a scorching 94 degrees, 4 degrees shy of the 1886 record, according to the weather service. Triple-digit heat hit L.A.’s valleys on Wednesday — above normal but just shy of record-breaking. In Woodland Hills, temperatures maxed out at 107 degrees, 5 degrees below the record from 1978, weather service data show. The heat combined with a surge of monsoonal moisture to create sticky conditions, with humidity levels of 50% to 55% in downtown Los Angeles, said meteorologist David Wofford. “We’ve had quite a few readings of 100, 105, 106 across the San Fernando Valley, kind of in the foothills, even near Monrovia. ... Downtown we were in the 90s, and along the coast we were a bit cooler, in the high 70s,” said Kristan Lund, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service. “These temperatures were anywhere from 8 to 15 degrees above normal for this time of year, and we’ve also been having warm overnight lows.” “That’s definitely one of the factors with the heat risk, is the warmer overnight temperatures,” said meteorologist Bryan Sinclair of the weather service. The humidity typically means that conditions don’t cool as much at night, with many areas reporting nighttime lows in the high 60s to around 70 degrees, he said. That can prolong the stress that heat places on the human body, depriving people of a chance to recover.
An extreme heat warning was in effect until 8 p.m. Thursday for the Santa Barbara south coast and mountains, where sundowner winds could gust to 35 to 50 mph in the evening and bring temperatures into the 90s along the coast and the triple digits in the foothills, according to the weather service. The winds blow down the southern slopes of the Santa Ynez Mountains, rapidly warming and drying the air. As a result, temperatures along the southern coast of Santa Barbara were expected to reach 15 to 20 degrees above normal Wednesday evening, Sinclair said. By Thursday evening, coastal temperatures were expected to cool into the 60s.
Temperatures are expected to return to nearly normal by Friday, Wofford said.
The projected temperatures come close to some of the hottest days ever recorded in downtown Los Angeles. According to records compiled by Current Results and the Los Angeles Almanac, the all-time high for downtown LA is 113°F, set on September 27, 2010. Other notable peaks include 111°F on September 6, 2020, and 108°F on July 6, 2018. While this week’s forecast does not appear likely to break that all-time record, several inland locations may approach or exceed monthly records. The NWS noted that June’s record high for downtown LA is 112°F (June 26, 1990), while July’s is 109°F (July 25, 1891). This week’s heat could challenge the July record in some areas.
The heat wave coincides with monsoonal moisture that will raise humidity, making the heat feel even more oppressive. Meteorologist Ariel Cohen warned that this combination “will make the overall effect of the heat significantly worse.” The weather service has issued heat advisories through Friday for most of the region, with an extreme heat watch starting Tuesday morning. Officials urge residents to stay hydrated, avoid outdoor activities during peak heat, and watch for symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
Monsoonal moisture, the Weather Service said, will add to the discomfort, bringing shower and thunderstorm potential each day, the highest chance in the mountains. Authorities advised people to drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids, stay out of the sun during the warmest times of the day, take shelter in air-conditioned spaces if possible, and check up on at-risk friends, relatives and neighbors. Children and pets should never be left in a parked vehicle even with the windows cracked, experts say, as temperatures can heat up to deadly levels within minutes.
Thunderstorms in the mountains could produce lightning strikes that spark new fires. While moisture may initially suppress fire activity, heightened winds expected by late Wednesday over interior mountains—including in Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties—could fuel rapid fire growth. The region is already battling the Summit Fire in the Antelope Valley, which has burned nearly 2,700 acres near the Los Angeles–San Bernardino County line. As of Monday, it was 39% contained, and hot, windy conditions may cause flare-ups. Evacuation orders have been lifted, but evacuation warnings remain in place for some zones in Los Angeles County. One home has been damaged, and one minor structure destroyed, with no deaths or injuries reported. A new fire, the Zebra Fire, began Monday around 7 p.m. near State Route 39 and Mountain Laurel Way in Azusa, burning 25 acres and closing the highway at Sierra Madre Highway.
On Wednesday, a new brush fire, the Pointe Fire, started in Santa Clarita near the 21300 block of Centre Pointe Parkway, threatening homes and prompting evacuation warnings. A second-alarm response was requested by the Los Angeles County Fire Department about 2:08 p.m., the department said on X. The fire was burning on a hillside near homes and some businesses.
A heat advisory will take effect Wednesday for the Los Angeles inland coastal area, while another advisory remained in effect for valley and mountain communities where temperatures were expected to reach as high as 105 degrees.
According to the NWS, "There is a high risk for dangerous heat illness for anyone, especially for the very young, the very old, those without air conditioning, and those active outdoors." For "considerable or catastrophic" hazards, emergency alerts will be sent to all enabled mobile phones in the area. To monitor lesser risk, residents are advised to sign up for county alert systems and to monitor agencies’ social media. Safety tips include drinking plenty of water frequently (3 to 4 cups every hour), taking breaks in cool shaded areas, avoiding alcohol and caffeine, and wearing protective clothing. For information about cooling centers operated by Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, see https://ready.lacounty.gov/heat/, https://ocgov.com/cooling-centers, https://capriverside.org/cool-centers and DPH.
Here are some basic tips from the city of Los Angeles: Drink plenty of cool water; stay hydrated. Wear loose, light-colored clothing that will keep you cool. Wear sunscreen and a hat for protection. Check on neighbors who might be vulnerable to the heat, especially those without air conditioning. Never leave children or pets in a car — not even for one minute. Temperatures inside a car can quickly skyrocket to deadly levels. If you work or play outside, take frequent breaks to hydrate and cool off in the shade. Keep pets indoors if possible. If kept outside, give them plenty of water and shade to rest in. Symptoms of heat-related illness include dizziness, fatigue, faintness, headaches, muscle cramps and increased thirst. If you experience these symptoms, seek medical attention.
Public health officials say heat-related illnesses, such as exhaustion and heatstroke, increase significantly during extreme heat. General symptoms of heat-related illness include vomiting, dizziness, confusion, and hot, red, dry or damp skin. The first sign of heat-related illness that may lead to heat exhaustion or stroke is heat cramps, according to the National Weather Service. Heat cramps are painful muscle cramps and spasms that usually occur in the legs and abdomen followed by heavy sweating. If you or someone else is experiencing heat cramps, apply firm pressure on cramping muscles or gently massage to relieve spasm. Take sips of water unless you feel nausea, then stop. If the cramps last longer than one hour seek immediate medical attention. If you see or experience any heat-related illness symptoms, move to a cool place and call 911. Check in on people who are vulnerable to heat-related illness by looking for: flushed face, excessive sweating, difficulty moving around, general symptoms of heat-related illness. If you see they’re exhibiting any of these symptoms, get them some water and help move them to a cooler place.
Amid concerns about fire risk, the Los Angeles County Fire Department pre-deployed 15 fire engines, four water tenders, four hand crews, two bulldozers and additional dispatch personnel, according to a news release from county Supervisor Kathryn Barger. The Santa Barbara County Fire Department also stepped up staffing, adding a hand crew, strike team, water tender, helicopter, bulldozer and an extra dispatcher in its dispatch center, said Mike Gray, a public information officer. The extra resources were placed throughout the county at 8 a.m. Wednesday and will be available through 8 a.m. Friday, he said. Amid such a widespread red flag warning, Gray said, “we always try to get additional resources upstaffed and staged and ready to respond in case something does happen.”
Antelope Valley, a high desert region in northern Los Angeles County, is particularly vulnerable to extreme heat and wildfires. The Summit Fire has already damaged at least one home and destroyed one minor structure, triggering evacuations near Lake Piru and in the Antelope Valley. Residents are advised to prepare for potential power outages, stay informed via local alerts, and have an evacuation plan ready.
In Northern California, the Elephant Fire in Sierra County had grown to more than 6,400 acres by Monday and was 5% contained, according to Cal Fire. Two other fires were reported on Sunday, and a new fire was reported in Shasta County on Monday.
California has experienced increasingly severe heat waves and wildfires in recent years, driven by climate change and prolonged drought. The 2026 fire season started early, with multiple blazes igniting across the state. This heat wave follows a pattern of extreme weather events that have tested emergency response systems and infrastructure. In 2020, a series of mid-August thunderstorms rolled over California, sparking thousands of dry-lightning fires. By the end of the year, it was the state’s worst fire year in modern history, with more than 1.4 million acres burned. Although it’s unclear to what extent climate change is influencing this particular heat wave, scientists have found that global warming from the burning of fossil fuels is making Western heat waves more frequent, persistent, humid and lethal.
Southern Californians should take immediate precautions as dangerous heat and elevated fire risks converge this week. Stay cool, check on vulnerable neighbors, and monitor fire updates. The combination of high temperatures, humidity, and winds demands heightened awareness.
