By Reginald Stanley. Posted April 6, 2022, 3:01 PM.

A strong ridge of high pressure coupled with Santa Ana Winds are fueling very warm temperatures across the entire region this week, set to peak on Thursday and Friday.

Warming temperatures had already begun on Monday, becoming sharply warmer on Wednesday with widespread 90s inland. Temperatures are forecast to peak Thursday and Friday across most of the region, with high temperatures up to 100 degrees possible across the inland valleys and even the coastal plains. This has prompted the National Weather Service to issue a Heat Advisory west of the mountains through 6 PM Friday. Record high temperatures may be broken Thursday and Friday across many locations in Southern California, potentially paralleling a similar early-season heatwave the region experienced in early April of 1989, according to historical records from Los Angeles and San Diego. Santa Ana Winds are expected to peak Thursday, primarily felt in the mountains and foothills. Friday is forecast to still be hot but with less wind. The high pressure ridge begins collapsing Saturday, however temperatures will still be warm that day, but less so than the previous several days.

Early next week, our weather cools significantly under onshore flow - and even bringing chances for rain and mountain snow on Tuesday. The duration and intensity of that event is not yet known. Temperatures over much of next week could be up to 10 degrees below normal for the time of year - a roughly 30 degree drop from this week's warm temperatures.