Dangerous heat wave to scorch Los Angeles this week

A potentially dangerous, record-setting heat wave this week is forecast to spike temperatures to the year’s highest mark yet, bringing discourse in Southern California back to one of its most infamous concerns: wildfire.

The unseasonable heat this week won’t create conditions extreme enough to fuel a fast-moving fire or issue a red flag warning, but local officials say they are gearing up for the possibility of small, grass fires — and, if this warm pattern lingers, an earlier start to the region’s most active fire season.

“The longer this warm stretch lasts, it’s going to speed up the whole drying and curing process,” said Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.

Thursday and Friday are forecast to see the highest temperatures this week, with much of the region seeing highs in the 90s and a few spots hitting triple digits, Kittell said. Those temperatures, 20 to 30 degrees above average for this time of year, mark another stretch of unseasonably hot weather, a pattern that Kittell said will likely last for at least another week, if not longer.

There will be a slight cooldown this weekend, before another heat spell is expected right behind it.

“Sometime in that Tuesday through Friday time period it will probably peak back up into the 90s,” Kittell said. “It could end up being hotter [next week] than this upcoming period.”

The ongoing heat builds on several weeks of warm, dry, Santa Ana-driven heat events since January. And while memories of last winter’s wind-driven flames are still raw for Southern Californians, it will take more than a few heat waves to make the region prone to such extreme burning again due to a soggy holiday season, experts say. But if such warm, dry periods continue, it could set the stage for an active fire season, especially come fall.

“If this continues the way it has with this heat we’re getting and no more rain, the potential is there for a pretty significant fire season,” said Rich Thompson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

The ongoing “green-up” from plentiful rains and above-normal temperatures “raises the possibility of above normal fire activity in the grass-dominated landscapes this spring,” officials with the National Interagency Fire Center wrote in its latest fire outlook.

But for now, it’s too early to be concerned about major fires, Kittell said. The region continues to benefit from the more than 18 inches of rainfall that L.A. has recorded since October, well above average for the region, even if no more rain falls the rest of the year.

“We’re almost 7 inches above the normal pace,” Kittell said, noting that downtown L.A. typically records about 12 inches of rain during the water year, which begins Oct. 1.

Still, local officials this week are preparing for increased fire weather conditions now and the upcoming months.

“We’re planning adverse weather planning meetings starting today, … to keep an eye on things and be ready with increased staffing and awareness,” Lyndsey Lantz, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department, said Wednesday. “As we come near the end of any winter, we have an increase in the volume of brush following rainy season, and as that dries out more, we are on alert.”

Along with slightly elevated fire concerns, officials have warned that the heat this week could bring health concerns.

In an urgent message, the National Weather Service warned that the spike in temperatures will bring a “HIGH RISK” for heat illness for most populations and urged Southland residents to plan accordingly. It will be most dangerous for residents vulnerable to heat, including the elderly, the very young, those without air conditioning and those who work outside.

“ADJUST PLANS NOW to limit strenuous outdoor activities between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.,” the weather service warned.

A widespread heat advisory has been issued for much of Southern California on Thursday and Friday, extending across the Los Angeles and Ventura County valleys and even along the typically cooler coast.

Temperatures will begin to rise Wednesday, but Thursday will see a major spike, with temperatures climbing into the 90s by the afternoon, according to the National Weather Service’s Wednesday morning forecast. It will remain unusually hot on Friday during the day.

The forecast shows a slight cooldown Saturday, but temperatures will still be about 15 to 20 degrees above normal.

Los Angeles County officials are urging people to take precautions and look out for their neighbors — especially those more vulnerable to heat.

“Heat causes more deaths in the U.S. annually than floods, storms, and lightning combined. Those most likely to get ill during the heat include older adults, young children, outdoor workers, athletes, and individuals with chronic medical conditions,” Muntu Davis, Los Angeles County’s health officer, said in a statement. “If you or someone around you experiences symptoms of heat stroke or heat exhaustion, such as dizziness, nausea, rapid heartbeat, confusion, or passing out, seek medical help immediately.”

County and city officials will be operating cooling centers during the heat wave and urged residents who don’t have air conditioning to take advantage of these centers, as well as splash pads, community pools and public libraries. Residents can find a location online or call 211.