The hottest day of the heatwave is here. How to stay safe and what to expect?

If you were planning on going outside, just don’t. Today (Friday, September 6) is the hottest day of the heatwave. It will be sweltering across the Southland.

You can expect breathtaking temperatures throughout Southern California: Even on the beaches, temperatures of over 30 degrees are expected, while inland temperatures will rise to over 38 degrees.

In the south, scorching hot temperatures prevail, followed by warm lows at night.

What’s on the agenda today:

• Temperatures could reach 40 degrees Celsius in downtown LA and 40 degrees Celsius in Anaheim.
• Today’s highs in the San Fernando Valley will range from 42 to 48 degrees. Woodland Hills could be close to breaking its 2020 heat record of 49 degrees – the hottest temperature ever recorded in Los Angeles County.
• Temperatures in the San Gabriel and Santa Clarita valleys range from 108 to 115.
• Temperatures of up to 46 degrees are expected in the Inland Empire.
• Temperatures of up to 46 degrees are expected in the Coachella Valley today.

What about tonight?

Lowest temperatures tonight will be around 21 degrees Celsius inland, but between 25 and 32 degrees Celsius in the foothills and desert areas.

What happens next?

The heat will stay with us next week. It will be about 5 degrees cooler on Saturday and Sunday as well. However, the real cooling will not begin until next Thursday at the earliest, say meteorologists.

Remember to drink plenty of fluids, avoid the sun and check on your loved ones.

Red flag warning

Because extreme heat combined with gusty winds pose a fire hazard, the National Weather Service has issued a wildfire warning for most mountainous regions in Southern California from Thursday through Saturday evening.

The Red Flag Warning applies to all mountain ranges extending from Santa Barbara County to Los Angeles County, including the Santa Monica and San Gabriel Mountains.

People living in these areas should check parking restrictions and be prepared to evacuate themselves in the event of a fire. Some things to avoid to prevent a wildfire include mowing the lawn or parking your car on dry grass. You’d be surprised how many wildfires in California are caused by humans. If you live near a wildfire-prone area, now is a good time to Check your travel bag.

Heatwave contributes to poor air quality

According to air quality experts, smog will occur in Southland in the next few days due to the heat wave.

The Santa Clarita and San Gabriel valleys, as well as parts of the San Bernardino valleys and mountains, will experience health-threatening smog levels.

During this time, authorities recommend running an air purifier and avoiding the use of major polluters such as gas-powered appliances until the evening.

You can also run your air conditioner to improve the air quality in your home. Just make sure you have a good filter. We have a guide on how to find the best filter.

You can check the air quality in your area on the AQMD website.

LADWP offers free air conditioning to senior residents of Los Angeles. Learn more here.

Where to cool off in LA

The Mid Valley Senior Citizen Center in Panorama City is among the locations offering extended hours during this week’s heat wave

(

Daniela Maxwell

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Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

)

The City of LA has now opened six cooling centers to help Los Angeles residents beat the heat from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. today through Monday:

• Fred Roberts Leisure Centre
  4700 Honduras St., Los Angeles
• Mid Valley Senior Center
  8801 Kester Ave., Panorama City
• Sunland Senior Center
  8640 Fenwick St., Sunland
• Lafayette Multipurpose Community Center
  625 S Lafayette Park Place, Los Angeles
• Jim Gilliam Recreation Center
  4000 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles
• Lincoln Heights Senior Center
  2323 Workman St., Los Angeles

Two library cooling centers are open exclusively this Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.:

• Chinatown Library Branch
  639 N. Hill Street, Los Angeles
• Pacoima Library Branch
  13605 Van Nuys Boulevard, Pacoima

And during regular business hours, most of LA’s recreation centers and libraries serve as cooling-off centers.

LADWP customers can sign up here to receive power outage alerts via SMS or email.

Skid Row residents can escape the heat at climate stations that offer cold beverages, seating, shade and other resources at the following locations:

• Towne St. (between 5th St. and 6th St.) across from ReFresh Spot
• San Pedro St., in the middle of the block between 6th and 7th Streets
• 5th and Maple

Long Beach parks and libraries are also serving as cooling centers during regular business hours. The following five locations are open today from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.:

• Houghton Park
  6301 Myrtle Ave., Long Beach
• El Dorado Park
  2800 Studebaker Road, Long Beach
• Silverado Park 1
  1545 W. 31st St., Long Beach
• McBride Park – California Community Recreation Center
  1550 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., Long Beach
• Long Beach Senior Center
  1150 E. 4th Street, Long Beach

Other regional cold centers

In LA, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties, call 3-1-1 or request a list of cool-down centers. In the city of Los Angeles, you can also find a list of recreation centers, senior centers and libraries online – all good options for cooling off.

• Tip: Call the center in advance to make sure seating is available.
• Tip: If the center you want is at capacity or not operating, head to a local air-conditioned library and cool off with a book about ice fishing in Antarctica.

For more details on cooling centers in Southern California, visit:

Heat exhaustion vs. heat stroke

With extreme heat looming across the South over the next few days, it is important to recognize the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

If you can’t tell the difference, there are two things you should pay attention to: your heart rate and the amount of sweat you’re sweating.

Typical symptoms of heat stroke include lack of sweating, a pounding headache, and a rapid, strong pulse. Heat exhaustion, on the other hand, makes you feel weak, dizzy, have a rapid, weak pulse, and excessive sweating.

To prevent heat exhaustion, go to a cooler place, drink water and take a cold shower.

If you feel heatstroke coming on, get help immediately and try to cool down. We’ve explained the key differences between heat exhaustion and heat stroke in detail.

Beach water warnings

If you’re heading to the beach today to cool off during this heat wave, there are some beaches you should avoid, according to Los Angeles County health officials. The following beaches have been found to have unhealthy levels of bacteria in the water:

• Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey
  The entire bathing area.
• Las Flores Creek at Las Flores State Beach
  The entire bathing area.
• Walnut Creek at Paradise Cove
  The entire bathing area.
• Marie Canyon outflow at Puerco Beach
  100 metres up and down the coast from the public access steps.
• Ramirez Creek at Paradise Cove
  100 meters up and down the coast from Paradise Cove Pier.
• Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro
  The entire bathing area.
• Topanga Canyon Beach in Malibu
  100 meters from the lagoon up and down the coast.
• Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica
  100 meters from the pier up and down the coast.
• Santa Monica Canyon Creek at Will Rogers State Beach
  Near Will Rogers Tower 18. 100 meters up and down along the shore of the creek
• Solstice Creek at Dan Blocker County Beach
  The entire bathing area.
• Pena Creek at Las Tunas County Beach
  100 yards in each direction of the outflow.
• Avalon Beach on Catalina Island
  50 feet east of the pier. Swimming area east of the Green Pleasure Pier.