Santa Ana Winds to Bring Heat Wave

Santa Ana winds will blow across the Southland this weekend, keeping the region hot and dry, possibly threatening vulnerable groups but without raising any major risk of wildfire, forecasters said.

Temperatures are expected to be in the 80s away from the coast and in the 90s in the valleys, according to a National weather service statement.

“Valley and foothill locations will see an increased risk of heat-related illnesses, especially for the homeless, the elderly, infants, outdoor workers and those participating in outdoor activities,” it said, adding that gusty offshore winds are possible in the region through Saturday.

Temperatures will be 10-15 degrees above normal in the region, but no community is expected to reach the hundreds, NWS meteorologist Robbie Munroe said in a telephone interview from his monitoring station in Oxnard.

“Some” fire danger will exist, but it is not regarded as elevated because a humidity level of above 15 percent is expected, he said.

The National Weather Service forecast highs of 74 today, 79 Saturday in San Clemente; 76 today, 80 Saturday in Newport Beach; 78 today, 82 Saturday in Laguna Beach; 78 today, 84 Saturday in Avalon; 81 today, 87 Saturday in Mission Viejo; 82 today, 90 Saturday in Long Beach; 83 today, 88 Saturday in Irvine; 84 today, 89 Saturday in Anaheim; 85 today, 91 Saturday in Fullerton; and 87 today, 92 Saturday in Yorba Linda.

Sunday’s temperatures will fall marginally in some communities, rise marginally or stay the same in others. Monday’s highs will fall back to today’s levels in some areas and dip slightly lower in others.

City News Service