As the mercury continues to push the bounds of record-high temperatures in Southern California, the National Weather Service (NWS) is warning residents to prepare for peak heat conditions. Declaring an Extreme Heat Warning, effective from 10 AM Wednesday to 8 PM PDT Friday, the NWS forecast details that areas like Coachella Valley and San Diego County Deserts could see the thermostat hit a sweltering 114 to 118 degrees. According to the NWS San Diego, the "HeatRisk" tool has indicated widespread major risks, especially for low desert regions, flagging these soaring temperatures as a serious threat to locals.
Residents might also gasp for cool relief in the Inland Empire and other inland areas, where the heat is predicted to climb 5 to 10 degrees above average for this time of the year. To make the matters worse, smoke from the Gifford Fire in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties is expected, bringing haze and diminishing air quality, the NWS San Diego reports. The same report suggested a chilling effect on visibility, reducing visibility to 1-5SM over higher coastal terrain and certain valleys.
Along with the land, the marine layer will also feel the heat's ebb and flow, fluctuating between 1000 and 1500 feet with the potential for late-night and early morning coastal low clouds extending into some western valleys. Cooling, however slight, is on the horizon for Friday through Saturday, but the temperatures still promise a few degrees shy of sweltering, even then.
For those seeking solace at sea, the maritime forecast brings a snippet of good news, projecting smooth sailing through Saturday with "No hazardous marine conditions are expected," according to the NWS San Diego. The ocean might remain an oasis of relative calm as the land bakes under the fierce overhead sun. However, skyward watchers, be wary – while an activation of the Skywarn network is not anticipated, the NWS encourages its spotters to remain vigilant and report significant weather conditions.
