SoCal weather forecast: Hottest week of the year is ahead

Key Points:

• Los Angeles is entering what is expected to be the hottest week of the year, with temperatures in downtown reaching 96 to 98 degrees through Friday and valley areas hitting between 100 and 110 degrees.
• The National Weather Service has issued a high risk warning for heat-related illnesses from Tuesday through Friday, urging residents to stay hydrated, remain in air-conditioned spaces, avoid sun exposure, and check on vulnerable neighbors.
• Death Valley continues to experience extreme heat, with highs around 119 to 121 degrees and overnight lows in the mid-90s; a recent heat-related fatality occurred there when a traveler’s car broke down on a 116-degree day.
• The heat wave is driven by high pressure aloft causing compressional warming and a northerly wind shift, which together elevate temperatures, although Santa Ana winds are not currently a factor.
• The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory and an extreme heat watch, signaling escalating dangers and the potential for extreme heat warnings, emphasizing the need for caution during this prolonged heat event.