After a week of overcast skies, cooler temperatures and even some drizzle, Southern California is headed for a warmup this weekend.
The warming trend will last until Monday, bringing well above normal temperatures to the region through the period, according to meteorologist Bruno Rodriguez with the National Weather Service’s San Diego office.
Highs will approach 100 degrees in low desert areas, and into the 90s across much of the inland valleys, he said.
Temperatures will run about 10 to almost 20 degrees above average, with the heat expected to peak Monday.
In Los Angeles and Ventura counties, the forecast calls for highs in the 80s and around 90 degrees, with humidity plummeting to as low as 5%.
Temperatures will start to dip again Tuesday, although above average heat will likely stick around for another week or so and intensify their grip across the West Coast and other western states, Rodriguez said, citing NWS’s Climate Prediction Center.
There’s “practically no chance of us being below normal in terms of temperature as we head into the second half of the month,” he said in a video posted earlier this week.
On top of hot and dry conditions, forecasters also anticipate winds will kick up this weekend, bringing elevated fire danger to Southern California.
A wind advisory is scheduled to be in effect for parts of the Inland Empire, as well as some Orange County mountain and foothill areas, from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
“Santa Ana winds are expected to be quite gusty for our northern areas,” a tweet on NWS San Diego’s account stated.
In L.A. and Ventura counties, “weak to locally moderate” offshore winds will bring gusts of 25 to 45 mph to the area on Sunday, according to the forecast.
Amid the “very warm and dry” conditions, the weather service advises people to be cautious when working or participating in recreational activities outdoors, and to keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
The agency also reminded people never to leave children or pets unattended in a hot vehicle.
