South Bay coastal cities face temperatures in the mid-80s this week, 10 to 15 degrees above normal, as the National Weather Service extended a heat advisory through Tuesday, July 14, with a separate extreme heat watch set to begin that same day.
The back-to-back alerts mean Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, El Segundo, and Hawthorne residents face elevated heat risks for more than a week straight. Forecasters expect a brief cooldown over the weekend of July 12-13, but heat is forecast to rebuild by Tuesday, July 14, when the extreme heat watch takes effect.
Wednesday, July 8, is forecast to be the hottest day of the current stretch, with coastal highs in the mid-80s, mid-90s to 102°F in the valleys, and 105 to 107°F in the Antelope Valley, according to the National Weather Service's Oxnard office. A stronger sea breeze may knock a couple of degrees off coastal temperatures Thursday, July 10, but inland areas will see little relief.
What the alerts mean
A heat advisory signals conditions hot enough to cause discomfort and potential heat illness, especially for vulnerable residents. The extreme heat watch beginning Tuesday, July 14, warns of a more severe threat on the horizon.
The U.S. Climate Prediction Center has flagged a moderate risk of extreme heat across Southern California from July 14 through July 20.
"It doesn't seem like we're out of the woods, even if temperatures start to drop after Thursday," said Rose Schoenfeld, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard, in a July 5 forecast briefing.
Who is most at risk
Dr. Muntu Davis, Los Angeles County Health Officer, said in a July 8 county statement that heat kills more Americans annually than floods, storms, and lightning combined. Those most vulnerable include older adults, young children, outdoor workers, athletes, pregnant people, those who live alone, and individuals with chronic medical conditions.
The LA County Department of Public Health urged residents without air conditioning to use free cooling centers, splash pads, and community pools.
How to stay safe
Residents can find the nearest cooling center at ready.lacounty.gov/heat or by calling 211, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. LA County library branches, including the Manhattan Beach location, serve as cooling centers during heat events. County pools and splash pads are also open.
Call 911 if someone shows signs of heat stroke: body temperature of 103°F or higher, dizziness, nausea, confusion, rapid heartbeat, or loss of consciousness.
The NWS HeatRisk tool at wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/heatrisk lets residents check risk levels for their specific neighborhood, factoring in how unusual the heat is for the time of year and local vulnerability data.
