120-Degree Temps, Fire Risk, Record-Shattering Heat Headed For SoCal

LOS ANGELES — The longest heat wave of the year is bearing down on the Golden State, promising scorching temperatures and elevated fire risks in SoCal over July 4 and extending through the long holiday weekend, according to the latest forecasts.

While the incoming heat will be widespread, with temps running 10 to 20 degrees above normal, the interior valleys will see the most searing temperatures. An excessive heat warning will be in place from Tuesday morning to Monday evening in the inland valleys and mountains, including the Coachella Valley and portions of the San Fernando Valley and San Gabriel Mountains.

Forecasters expect the heat will peak Friday and Saturday, but the abnormally high temperatures will linger well into next week.

According to the weather service, afternoon highs in Palm Springs will run 116 degrees or higher from Wednesday until next Thursday, potentially peaking at 122 on Friday and 121 on Saturday. Forecasters said the city had a 59 percent chance of tying or breaking its daily temperature record Friday, and a 66 percent chance Saturday.

"A significant heatwave will impact a large part of the area this week and continue into next week," the National Weather Service warned Monday. "Temperatures will become dangerously hot across much of the area. High temperatures by mid to late week are expected to reach 95 to 105 degrees in many areas away from the coast, with highs upwards of 105 to 115 over interior valley and foothills, including the Antelope Valley."

In the Antelope Valley, forecasters expect Lancaster will stay in the triple digits all week, with a forecast of 111 degrees for Thursday's July 4 holiday. In the Santa Clarita Valley, Valencia will hit 102 degrees Wednesday and Thursday, according to the NWS.

The San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys will see highs in the 90s all week, with Pasadena hitting 94 on Sunday and reaching 97 on Wednesday.

Downtown Los Angeles will be in the 80s throughout the week but could reach 90 degrees Friday and Saturday. Inland Orange County will similarly be in the 80s, with Anaheim Hills reaching the 90s by mid-week.

The San Diego County valleys will be under a heat advisory Friday and Saturday, with highs between 90 and 100 degrees expected around Santee, La Mesa, El Cajon and San Marcos. San Diego proper is likely to hit 80 degrees Friday through

According to the weather service, the combination of scorching temperatures, low humidity, and potential sundowner winds developing Thursday and Friday will also heighten the wildfire risk through the holiday.

Southland fire crews were already busy over the weekend, battling a large brush fire in Riverside County, another blaze near Woolsey Canyon and the 22-acre Indigo Fire burning northwest of Santa Clarita in LA County.

In San Diego County, the Kitchen Fire ignited Monday morning west of Lake Morena and scorched more than 43 acres by early afternoon.

The state Office of Emergency Services acknowledged the growing wildfire risk Monday, announcing proactive deployments of extra fire personnel to Lake, Napa, Tehama, El Dorado, Nevada, Sacramento and Yolo counties.

City News Service contributed to this report.