Hottest Days Of The Year Forecast In SoCal: 'Warm Sunshine Everywhere'

LOS ANGELES — A stubborn streak of cooler days is coming to an end, and SoCal is looking at its warmest days of the year so far to send off the week.

According to the National Weather Service, a ridge of high pressure is building across the West, allowing afternoon temps to gain 4 to 8 degrees each day through Saturday. By Friday, forecasters expect highs around Los Angeles will run up to 12 degrees above normal. Friday and Saturday are on track to be the warmest days in the stretch for the coasts and valleys, peaking Saturday and Sunday in the mountains and deserts.

"The pressure gradient flip should help keep coastal low clouds away Thursday through Saturday," NWS San Diego said Wednesday. "So get ready for lots of warm sunshine everywhere. Temperatures will get the memo to rise accordingly under mostly sunny skies and a warmer, drier airmass."

Wednesday will be plenty pleasant, but the warmth will get going in earnest starting Thursday. Afternoon highs around Anaheim, Riverside and San Bernardino should break into the 80s and breach the 70s around San Diego.

SoCal will tack on a few more degrees Friday, soaring into the mid-80s in LA proper and near 80 degrees in San Diego beneath sunny skies. Forecasters expect Los Angeles to hit the 90-degree mark Saturday.

"Saturday will be the peak of the heat for most of the area," NWS Los Angeles wrote Wednesday. "Although some beaches may cool a little, most of the [coasts and valleys] will see another 2 to 3 degrees of warming. The interior will warm a more impressive 5 to 10 degrees as there will be no cool air filtering in."

Enjoy it while it lasts.

Though Sunday will still be sunny, the Southand will see afternoon highs tumble by double digits and San Diego will fall into the high 60s. Forecasters see the clouds returning and temperatures dipping further to kick off next week.

"The upper high gradually breaks down next week, forming a coastal eddy, inviting the marine layer to rebuild and coastal clouds to form," forecasters said. "The clouds should extend farther inland each night and morning next week and bring temperatures back to near normal."