Days of triple-digital heat are in the forecast for Southern California.
The sweltering heat wave will see temperatures in many areas rising into triple digits and staying that way through Labor Day weekend. Excessive heat watches go into effect Wednesday morning and continue through Sunday for Los Angeles Counties.
An excessive heat warning goes into effect at 10 a.m. Tuesday to 8 p.m. Monday for inland Orange County and Riverside and San Bernardino county valleys.
Temperatures will rise a few degrees Monday, then spike even more on Tuesday and stay that way through next weekend. In Van Nuys, temperatures are expected to top 100 degrees every day from Tuesday through Sunday, peaking at 106 both Wednesday and Sunday.
Get Southern California news, weather forecasts and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC LA newsletters.
In valley areas, highs the low 90s are in the Monday forecast. On Thursday, expect a high of 104.
"We're talking about a 12-degree jump from today to then, so it's really going to get going," said NBC4 forecaster Stephanie Olmo.
Here are some of the sizzling highs in this week's forecast.
- Santa Clarita: 104 degrees on Tuesday, 108 on Thursday.
- Lancaster: 108 to 109 degrees Wednesday through Sunday.
- Pasadena: 99 degrees Wednesday, 101 on Thursday and Saturday, and 102 on Sunday.
- Downtown Los Angeles: 88 Tuesday, mid-to-high 90s for the rest of the week.
Temperatures at the beaches will be lower, but still climb into the upper 80s in Santa Monica beginning Wednesday. Long Beach will see highs in the upper 80s, rising to 89 and 91 next weekend.
In Orange County, inland highs will hover in the mid-to-upper 90s through the weekend. Overnight lows will not offer much relief either, staying in the 70s in most of the hotter areas.
Health officials advise residents to stay indoors with air conditioning whenever possible.
- Stay hydrated! The more hydrated you are, the more effective your body will be at keeping you cool. Drink water – not fizzy and alcoholic drinks, which will dehydrate you.
- Avoid exercise in the middle of the day. If you need to exercise outside, do it early in the morning when the temperature is lower.
- Wear lightweight, light-colored natural fabrics like cotton and linen, as these will help your skin breathe and let your sweat evaporate, cooling you down.
- We sweat around half a pint daily from both feet (and we wonder why they stink!), so if you can, wear sandals or flip-flops to let your foot sweat evaporate.
- Use a fan to circulate air from open windows. Keep your blinds or curtains drawn during the day, so your home doesn’t heat up while you’re out. Turn off big appliances and help prevent brown-outs!
- To cool down quickly, run your wrists under a cold tap or keep a water spray in the fridge for a quick cooling spritz to the face.
- Keep some wet wipes in your bag so you can freshen up your hands, face and neck if you get hot or clammy.
- Want to stay cool at night? One way is to wash your feet in cool water or take a cold shower before bedtime – especially if you get hot during the night or have hot sweats.
- To cool down in bed, try keeping your pillowcase or sheets in a plastic bag in the fridge during the day. Put them back on the bed at night. The fabric will stay cool when you’re trying to get to sleep.
- And bring your pets in and make sure they have shade and water.
- Be prepared for power outages and know where cooling centers are!
Cooling centers for Los Angeles County can be found here. Cooling centers for the city of Los Angeles can be found here, or by calling 311.
