Aug. 12--Another summer heat wave is bearing down on Southern California that will last through the weekend.
The hottest areas will, as usual, be places like Woodland Hills and Burbank, where temperatures could top out at 103 and 98 degrees, respectively, by the weekend, said Stuart Seto of the National Weather Service. Downtown Los Angeles will bake in above-average heat Saturday and Sunday, when temperatures could hit 91 degrees, Seto said.
The temperatures, though not record-breaking, are still about 10 degrees above average for this time of year, Seto said. The weather for the last week has been cooler than usual, he added.
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If Southern Californians need another reason to hit the beach this weekend, the water is also unusually warm, Seto said. The water at the Santa Monica Pier on Sunday was a tropical 74 degrees; it was 71 degrees in Marina del Rey, he said. The warm waters are expected to persist through the weekend.
But the heat brings an increased risk of fire in the drought-parched mountains and hills. Though humidity is not expected to drop low enough to trigger wildfire warnings, years of drought and 10- to 20-mph winds expected this weekend can turn any spark into a dangerous fire, Seto said.
Officials warned people at risk to stay safe.
"The hot conditions may result in an increase in heat-related illnesses, especially for the homeless, elderly, infants, outdoor workers and those participating in outdoor activities. The extended period of hot and dry conditions will also bring elevated fire danger," the NWS said in a statement.
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