Los Angeles County is bracing for another wave of oppressive heat; the Department of Public Health is sounding the alarm, urging locals to take serious precautions against a host of heat-related illnesses. According to a bulletin from the Los Angeles County, a scorching cocktail of extreme temperatures is set to sweep through the region from Thursday, August 21, to Saturday, August 23, prompting an Extreme Heat Warning and Heat Advisory issued by the National Weather Service (NWS).
In light of the impending heatwave covering an expanse of areas, including the Antelope Valley and the East San Gabriel Mountains, the NWS has mapped out heat risks that factor in the atypical nature of the seasonal heat, the longevity of the spiking temperatures that affect both days and nights, and the potential for significant heat-related impacts drawing on data from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), as reported by the County of Los Angeles. The high temperatures are expected to grip several communities from the Los Angeles Inland Coast to the Northwest LA County Mountains. The Public Health officials suggest limiting outdoor exposure during peak hours, donning light clothes, and never leaving kids or pets in vehicles, which can turn into veritable ovens under the sun.
Residents especially vulnerable to the heat wave—like outdoor workers, the elderly, and pregnant individuals—are urged to be extra vigilant. "Heat causes more deaths in the U.S. annually than floods, storms, and lightning combined," warns Dr. Muntu Davis, as per the County of Los Angeles, underscoring the potentially deadly outcomes of extreme temperatures. To stay cool, the department recommends community pools, splash pads, and visiting cool spaces like malls or libraries, and for those who need assistance finding these locations, 211 LA County can provide necessary guidance.
