The “most significant heatwave of the summer season” is coming to Southern California as some of the region faces chances of monsoonal thunderstorms starting Thursday, Aug. 21.
It comes as parts of Southern California set daily record highs earlier this month.
The National Weather Service San Diego and Los Angeles offices have placed much of the region under extreme heat warnings or watches, largely effective beginning either Aug. 20 and Aug. 21, as meteorologists warn of “dangerously hot conditions” and triple-digit temperatures. Some of these extreme heat alerts will last through the weekend, revealing that Southern Californians aren’t likely to see relief from scorching temperatures right away.
“The most significant heatwave of the summer season, so far, is on the way for the middle to latter parts of this week and into the upcoming weekend, from Wednesday through Saturday,” the NWS Los Angeles said.
Meanwhile, the chance of thunderstorms and showers begin Aug. 21 for parts of Southern California but increase Aug. 22-25, according to the NWS San Diego.
How hot is it going to be tomorrow? See forecasted highs across Southern California
Here are the forecasted daytime highs in Southern California for Aug. 20, according to the National Weather Service. Colors on the map depict the following:
Green: temperatures are between the 70s and 80s
Yellow: temperatures are around the mid-80s to mid-90s
Orange: temperatures are near 100 degrees or just above
Red: temperatures greater than 100 degrees
How hot will it be? See highs forecasted for Thursday
Here are some of the highs forecasted for Aug. 21, according to the NWS San Diego as of Monday, Aug. 18. This is when much of the region covered by this NWS office — San Diego, Orange and portions of San Bernardino and Riverside counties — is under an extreme heat alert.
El Centro: 114 degrees
Borrego Springs: 113 degrees
Thermal: 111 degrees
Palm Springs: 113 degrees
Victorville: 106 degrees
San Bernardino: 105 degrees
Hemet: 105 degrees
Lake Elsinore: 105 degrees
Joshua Tree National Park: 102 degrees
Ontario: 101 degrees
Riverside: 101 degrees
Beaumont: 101 degrees
Hesperia: 100 degrees
Ramona: 98 degrees
Temecula: 97 degrees
Anaheim: 96 degrees
Escondido: 92 degrees
Big Bear Lake: 88 degrees
Red flag warning issued for Los Angeles, Ventura counties as region faces risk of wildfires
A red flag warning for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties will go in effect the morning of Aug. 20 through the night of Aug. 23 due to “an unseasonably hot and unstable air mass capable of producing explosive fire behavior,” the NWS Los Angeles said.
A fire weather watch will go in effect the morning of Aug. 21 through the evening of Aug. 23 for the same reason for parts of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.
A red flag warning means “fire-weather conditions are expected to be favorable for developing explosive fire behavior.”
What is an extreme heat warning? What is an extreme heat watch?
An extreme heat warning is the most urgent heat-related alert issued by the National Weather Service, in which “extremely dangerous heat conditions are expected or occurring.” People are urged to avoid outdoor activities, or at least drink plenty of water and take frequent breaks in the shade if they must be outside.
An extreme heat watch is issued when “conditions are favorable for an extreme heat event, but its occurrence and timing are still uncertain.”
What are heat stroke symptoms?
Heat stroke is the “most serious” form of heat injury caused by your body overheating, typically by being in high temperatures for too long, according to the Mayo Clinic.
People with heat stroke should seek medical treatment immediately, as it can cause damage to the heart, brain, kidneys, and muscles if it goes untreated. People with heat stroke can face “serious complications or death” the longer treatment is delayed, said the Mayo Clinic. While waiting for emergency treatment, people experiencing heat stroke should go indoors or get into the shade, remove excess clothing and try to cool down. A few options to cool yourself down include a cool shower, getting sprayed by a garden hose, and placing ice packs or cold towels on the heat, neck, armpits, and groin.
Symptoms of heat stroke, the Mayo Clinic said, include:
The main sign of heat stroke will be a core body temperature of 104 degrees or higher
Altered mental state or behavior
Skin feels hot and dry to the touch, or profuse sweating if the heatstroke is brought on by strenuous exercise
Nausea and vomiting
Flushed skin
Rapid breathing
Racing heart rate
Headache
Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: SoCal heat wave: See timing, weather forecast, red flag warnings
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