First Alert Forecast

This Week Starts With Humidity and Extreme Heat. When Will It Cool Down?

A cooling trend is on the way this week for some parts of Southern California.

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Southern Californians face another day of dangerous, triple-digit temperatures and elevated fire danger in some areas as humid conditions persist across the region.

A Flex Alert that goes into effect Monday afternoon marks the third since Friday due to the heat. The alert is a call for residents to voluntarily conserve power to reduce stress on the state's power grid.

A cooling trend is expected Tuesday that will bring temperatures down to near normal levels for the rest of the week.

"The main thing to note for the next couple of days we're actually on a cooling trend," said NBC4 forecaster David Biggar. "It's not very steep for the basin and coast line, but as we head toward Friday, it'll be a little bit cooler and the humidity will be going away."

Triple-digit temperatures are still expected throughout the week in the Antelope Valley, where record temperatures were recorded in two cities for the second straight day on Sunday.

Monday marks the third time since Friday that Californians have been asked to conserve electricity. Toni Guinyard reports for Today in LA on Monday July 12, 2021.

Lancaster set a record-high of 113 degrees on Sunday, and Palmdale a record-high 111. Saturday's highs of 112 in Palmdale broke the old record for that date of 109 set in 2003, while the 113 in Lancaster broke 1961's record of 112.

An excessive heat warning remained in effect in the Antelope Valley through 9 p.m. Monday, with the NWS predicting ``dangerously hot conditions'' and temperatures up to 115 degrees. Temperatures won't drop dramatically overnight in the area either, with lows expected in the mid-70s to mid-80s.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued an extreme heat warning through Tuesday in the Antelope Valley, and through Monday in the Santa Clarita and western San Fernando valleys. County officials said those without air conditioning at home can take advantage of cooling centers, with information on locations available at https://ready.lacounty.gov/heat/ or by calling 211.

A less severe heat advisory will be in effect until 9 p.m. Monday for Los Angeles County mountains, excluding the Santa Monica range. Forecasters said lower elevations could see temperatures of up to 109 degrees.

A heat advisory was allowed to expire in the Santa Clarita Valley at 9 p.m. Sunday.

A continuing onshore flow will keep temperatures cooler along the coast.

LA County residents can take solace in the fact that this weekend's high temps are still well short of the eye-popping numbers recorded in Death Valley. The Mojave Desert location -- known for the Earth's hottest recorded temperature of 134 degrees in 1913 -- reached a high of 130 degrees on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Meanwhile, the California Independent System Operator, which manages the state's power grid, has declared a Flex Alert -- a call for voluntary conservation in hopes of reducing strain on the system and preventing outages -- from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday.

How to Stay Cool

  • 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!
Copyright CNS - City News Service
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