More Southland Swelter: Triple Digit Temperatures Return

LOS ANGELES, CA — Another heat wave will arrive on the wings of autumn in Southern California. After a brief bout of cool weather, triple digit temperatures are return on the heels of the record-smashing swelter that withered the region at the start of September.

Temperatures will begin rising in the Los Angeles area as early as Friday but peak heat will hit Sunday and last through Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.

Inland and valley areas could see temperatures as high as 106 degrees with mountains and deserts reaching around 100 degrees, weather service officials said.

"Dangerous heat will return to SoCal early next week," NWS officials said. "High Heat Risk will be possible Mon-Wed across portions of Ventura/LA counties."

An excessive heat watch will take effect Monday through Wednesday for the coasts and valleys of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

"Temperatures will be hottest on Monday and Tuesday when highs push into the 90s to around 105 degrees across the interior coastal plain, valleys, mountains, and deserts," according to the NWS. "The coastal and inland valleys of Los Angeles County and nearby Ventura County will be especially warm with excessive heat conditions likely on those days."

In Orange County, forecasters have already announced excessive heat watches that will be in place Monday morning through Wednesday evening for inland and coastal areas. According to the NWS, temperatures could reach triple- digits inland in cities such as Santa Ana, Anaheim, Irvine and Fullerton, while coastal areas could reach into the 90s.

In San Diego County, forecasters said the heat will peak Monday and Tuesday. Inland Empire temperatures are expected to get above 100 degrees and inland Orange County and San Diego could reach the mid-to upper 90s.

In Riverside County, Palm Springs and Thermal could see temperatures as high as 108 degrees.

"Be prepared to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors," the NWS advised. "Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances."

Southlanders might shudder at the thought of another heat wave, but forecasters assure that this stint will not be as long or warm as the last.

"We’re not expecting it to be as warm or as long," Mike Wofford, a meteorologist with the weather service in Oxnard told the Los Angeles Times. "It won’t be nearly as bad, so that’s a good thing."

It was unclear whether Southland residents would need to be conserved about conserving power like they were during the heat wave earlier this month.

READ MORE: How CA Avoided Mass Blackouts Amid Historic Heatwave

The first day of fall came on Thursday, marking the end of summer, but that doesn't indicate that the state is done with heat. It's likely that hot, dry conditions will be here to stay through the fall months.

There's a 91 percent chance that California will need to prepare for La Niña conditions through November, the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center said last week.

"Another dry winter is certainly not going to be good news for California," Mike Halpert, deputy director of the Climate Prediction Center told the Los Angeles Times.

If meteorologist predictions come true, it would be the third year that La Niña conditions have lingered. It would be only the third time the weather phase has stuck around for three years since record-keeping began in the early 1950s.

READ MORE: CA's Third Year Of La Niña? Here's What To Expect This Fall

California's last heat wave dragged temperatures up to record-breaking levels. The state capital of Sacramento hit an all-time high Tuesday of 116 degrees, breaking a 97-year-old record.

Residents are urged to keep tabs on vulnerable family members, neighbors and friends. Newborns, pregnant people, children, elderly residents and those with chronic illnesses are especially at risk, officials said.

"Everyone is at risk from the dangers of extreme heat, but these groups are more vulnerable than most," NWS officials said. "Age and certain conditions make the body less able to regulate temperature."

Residents are also urged to protect their pets.
The Kennel Club has advised that dogs should not be walked on pavement during extreme heat because it can burn their paws.
The best way to tell if a pavement is too hot for your dog to walk on is to place the back of your hand on the pavement for seven seconds. If it’s too painful for your hand, then it’s too painful for your dog’s paws, the Kennel Club said.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has reminded residents to never leave pets inside a locked vehicle, even for short periods of time, since the interior of a vehicle parked in the heat can quickly turn deadly.

Scientists say climate change has made the West warmer and drier over the last three decades and will continue to make weather more extreme and wildfires more frequent and destructive. In the last five years, California has experienced the largest and most destructive fires in state history.

The Associated Press and City News Service contributed to this report.