Temperatures Will Reach The 90s And Triple Digits In These SoCal Areas

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — The Southland is forecast to see its first heat wave of 2025 this week, with temperatures expected to scorch inland areas and soar well above seasonal averages everywhere else.

The warming trend, which is set to begin Wednesday and end Thursday, will be driven by a high-pressure system moving over the region, according to the National Weather Service.

The hottest day is predicted to be Thursday, with many inland communities expected to feel low to mid-90-degree weather. By the weekend, forecasters predict that temperatures will remain mostly warm but will significantly cool down.

"Daytime high temperatures will be well above normal temperatures away from the coast for late week," forecasters said. "...Closer to the coast, onshore flow should remain intact and keep the warming trend moderated."

READ MORE: Coachella Weekend 1 To Sizzle With Triple-Digit Heat, NWS Warns

While inland and desert areas will experience the most significant temperature increases, parts of Los Angeles and Orange counties could heat up to the mid-80s. Coastal areas in these counties, like Malibu and Laguna Beach, are forecast to reach the low to mid 70s, according to the NWS.

In San Diego County, coastal areas like Carlsbad will see temperatures reach the high 70s while inland areas like Santee could see temperatures reach 85 degrees until the weekend cooldown comes.

However, Woodland Hills in LA County could see temperatures in the mid-90s midweek.

"A 'miniheatwave' is slated for the [Los Angeles] region beginning Wednesday, peaking Thursday and ending Friday, with temperatures returning closer to normal for the upcoming weekend. The warmest locations will see temperatures into the 90s, about 15 degrees above normal," the NWS wrote on X.

Meanwhile, the Coachella Valley in Riverside County is bracing for a more intense heat wave that could coincide with the first weekend of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio. Festival-goers should be prepared for extreme heat, as temperatures during the event are forecasted to reach or exceed 100 degrees on Friday, according to the NWS.

Attendees are advised to stay hydrated, wear light-colored clothing, and take necessary precautions to avoid heat-related illnesses.

"The first weekend of the festival ... it’s going to be a hot weekend," David Munyan, a National Weather Service meteorologist told the Los Angeles Times. "There’s not a whole lot of shade out there, so of course, we always want to preach hydration, light-colored clothing."

In other parts of Riverside County, like Banning and Temecula, temperatures will be a little cooler and stay between 81 and 88 degrees.

Although Southern California residents are always urged to hydrate and protect themselves and their vulnerable loved ones from warmer temperatures, the weather services have not issued any official heat advisories.

The news comes as California moves past a delayed and underwhelming rainy season. With much of the Southland receiving below-average rainfall, concerns about drought and fire risk are once again on the rise, Jayme Laber, a hydrologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, previously told Patch.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties are all in severe drought. Parts of Riverside, San Diego, Imperial and San Bernardino counties are under extreme drought. Exceptional drought conditions — the most extreme level is beginning to spread in the most inland regions of the Southland, according to weather experts.

“Because it was so dry in December and January, we dug ourselves in a pretty big hole, deficit-wise for rainfall,” Laber said. “So even though we had the rainfall in February and March, we're still behind… We're lower than normal.”

Read more on California's drought situation here.