Heat Dome to Bake Southern California as Wildfire Risk Rises
Summer is showing no signs of letting go in parts of Southern California and the Southwest. A large heat dome building over this corner of the country will send the temperatures soaring toward record levels heading into the weekend. Read on for a closer look at how toasty it will get.
Record-Breaking Heat Bearing Down on California
An October heat wave is settling in across parts of California and Nevada this weekend, resulting in extreme temperatures and an elevated risk of wildfires. Forecasters are warning that the long duration of this heat wave could present problems for vulnerable populations.
High temperatures are forecast to hover in the low 90s to the mid 100s across the coastal region of Southern California and into valleys. It will be a scorcher of a weekend for Los Angeles, with temperatures expected to hit the low 100s. The staying power of the heat dome will keep temperatures well above normal for early October through at least the middle of next week.
Los Angeles is predicted to approach its record high on Monday with a forecast high of 102 degrees. The record high for this date in history is 101 degrees, dating back to 1971. For context, the average high for this time of the year in the City of Angels is around 80 degrees.
The heat will dip down into San Diego, an area that is typically sheltered from weather of this magnitude. This part of the region will see highs approach the century mark on Saturday during the peak afternoon heating hours. Temperatures will remain in the 90s in San Diego through at least Monday, with highs in the upper 80s on Tuesday and Wednesday. Like Los Angeles, daily highs could be challenged over the weekend in San Diego.
Moving farther to the east, Palm Springs is expecting highs to bounce around in the low 100s through at least the end of next week. Las Vegas will only be slightly cooler, with highs forecast to hit the upper 90s for several days.
The rising temperatures will inevitably send people to the beach for relief. However, the weak offshore winds this weekend will do little to cut the heat. Temperatures will still manage to climb into the low to mid 90s. The coastal region will provide a bit of relief due to the lower humidity levels when compared to areas farther inland.
Increased Wildfire Threat and Other Risks
The building heat dome will usher in a higher threat of wildfires. A series of weak disturbances are forecast to travel along the area of high pressure anchored over the Southwest, triggering higher winds. The merger of the extreme heat, low humidity, and strong winds will naturally support the development of wildfire ignition and spread. Any fires that do start could spread quickly if the wind gets a hold of the embers.
Compounding the problem will be the warm overnight lows. These readings are forecast to bottom out in the 70s throughout the Los Angeles basin for the next few days. The lack of cooling after the sun goes down will translate to uncomfortable sleeping weather for homes without air conditioning.
People who are susceptible to the impacts of heat will want to take extra precautions until this pattern breaks. It is also important to pay close attention to pets, particularly when walking dogs on the hot pavement.
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