LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Torrid temperatures will persist in Southern California through at least Saturday, National Weather Service forecasters warned, and the manager of the state's electricity grid urged residents to conserve energy this afternoon to avoid outages.
The “dangerously high temperatures'' that will prevail in the Southland at least for the next two days result from strong high pressure and weak onshore flow, according to an NNWS statement. As has been the case since Saturday, the hottest areas will be the mountains and valleys of L.A. County, with temperature highs in those areas ranging up to 112 degrees.
In L.A. County, highs of 100 and above are expected today in Burbank, Downtown L.A., Lancaster, Long Beach, Palmdale Pasadena, San Gabriel, Saugus and Woodland Hills. A cooling trend will get underway Saturday, but the only areas that will slip below 100 are Downtown L.A., Long Beach, San Gabriel.
In Orange County, triple-digit temperatures are forecast today in Anaheim, Fullerton, Mission Viejo and Yorba Linda, and Fullerton and Yorba Linda are forecast to hit 100 again Saturday.
The L.A. County coast will not be spared today's torrid heat. Excessive heat warnings will remain in force until 10 p.m. Saturday night in the San Fernando, Santa Clarita, San Gabriel and Antelope valleys, the San Gabriel and Santa Monica mountains at lower elevations, what NWS forecasters call the coast, which includes beach cities, metropolitan L.A and the Hollywood Hills
An excessive heat warning also will be in effect in Inland Orange County today. A less serious heat advisory will be in force at the same time in the county's coastal communities.
“Some cooling is expected Saturday, but temperatures will still be well above normal and all the current advisories and warnings will continue through at least Saturday evening,'' the NWS statement said.
The California Independent System Operator, which manages the state's power grid, issued a statewide Flex Alert that will be in effect from 1 to 10 p.m. today, calling for voluntary electricity conservation.
“Consumers are urged to conserve electricity especially during the late afternoon when air conditioners typically are at peak use,'' according to Cal- ISO, which issued a Flex-Alert previously once this week -- on Tuesday.
The weather service again urged area residents to protect themselves and their loved ones from such heat-related illnesses as heat strokes by avoiding strenuous work in high heat, staying hydrated, wearing lightweight, light- colored clothing, checking on friends and neighbors -- especially the elderly --
and by never leaving children, seniors or pets in cars parked in hot weather, even for a short time and even with windows cracked open.
The NWS forecast partly cloudy skies today in L.A. County, along with highs of 85 in Avalon; 90 at LAX; 97 on Mount Wilson; 102 in Long Beach; 103 inn Downtown L.A.; 106 in Palmdale and Lancaster; 107 in San Gabriel; 108 in Burbank and Pasadena; 112 in Saugus; and 114 in Woodland Hills.
Sunny skies were forecast in Orange County, along with highs of 82 in Laguna Beach; 87 in San Clemente; 89 in Newport Beach; 105 in Irvine and Mission Viejo; 107 in Anaheim and Yorba Linda; and 108 in Fullerton.