By Reginald Stanley. Posted July 4, 2024, 2:26 AM.

The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Warning to all non-coastal parts of Southern California from 11 AM Friday through 9 PM Saturday, as a protracted major heat wave bears down on the region this week. A Heat Advisory will be in place for Orange County and the Santa Ana Mountains.

What has been an already hot summer so far will only get hotter late this week, with high temperatures expected to peak on Friday and Saturday. Inland, temperatures on these days are forecast to be between 10 and 17 degrees above seasonal averages, while areas closer to the coast will be 5 to 10 degrees above normal. Widespread triple-digit temperatures are predicted for the inland valleys and foothills, with some of the hottest high temperatures predicted for Lake Elsinore and Hemet near 110 degrees Friday and Saturday. The heat will last even longer for the deserts, particularly the lower deserts east of the San Jacinto Mountains - through the end of next week. Nighttime low temperatures in the low deserts are predicted to sink to only the middle 80s and lower 90s, offering very little to no relief from the daytime heat. Low temperatures in the upper deserts are predicted to fall into the 70s. In Palm Springs, the forecasted high temperature for Friday is 123 degrees, which would challenge an all-time record at that location.

Only a slight dip in temperatures is forecast to occur Sunday and early next week, while still remaining hotter than average. The National Weather Service in San Diego has cautioned that warnings may be extended into early next week if conditions prove necessary. With high heat comes danger - stay hydrated, avoid strenuous outdoor activities if possible, wear lightweight and light-colored clothing, and do not leave children or pets inside vehicles.