Heat wave should lessen by Friday
Today inland mountain areas can still expect triple digits.
A heat wave that brought record highs to Southern California mountain areas this week will linger through today but fade out Friday, forecasters said.
Before the high pressure stationed over the area starts weakening, the Antelope Valley and the inland mountains of Los Angeles County will sizzle once again under triple-digit temperatures, said Stuart Seto, a weather specialist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
"It'll be slightly cooler today but still really hot," Seto said.
An excessive heat warning is scheduled to remain in effect until 8 p.m. today in the mountains of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties, with the exception of the Santa Monica Mountains range. Temperatures in those inland mountain areas will likely reach 107 today, with the period between noon and 6 p.m. expected to be the hottest, Seto said.
Hot conditions also are expected in the Antelope Valley, where a high of 112 is forecast today, along with a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon.
The Antelope Valley experienced a second straight day of record highs Wednesday, surpassing an intense heat wave six years ago, Seto said.
Palmdale reached 112 degrees, breaking the record of 111 set in 2002, and Lancaster tied its record of 112 degrees, also set in 2002.
Today, Palmdale is expected to reach 108 degrees and Lancaster 109.
Elsewhere, today's forecast calls for partly cloudy skies and highs in the lower 70s at the beaches; the lower 80s inland, including downtown L.A.; the upper 80s in the Hollywood Hills; and the 90s in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreational Area.
The forecast for Friday anticipates another slight dip in temperature, falling to the 90s in the inland mountains and the low 100s in the Antelope Valley.
francisco.varaorta@latimes.com
