Logo

More like California steamin’.

More than five million Californians are being urged to stay indoors as an unusually early-season heat wave sends temperatures across the state soaring.

The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory from 10 a.m. Thursday through 8 p.m. Friday covering San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Ventura counties, warning of dangerous conditions that could lead to heat-related illness.

Forecasters say temperatures could climb into the 90s across much of the region, with 93 to 98 degrees expected in the inland areas of San Diego, Orange County and the Inland Empire, urging people to stay indoors.


  Temperatures in Downtown Los Angeles might reach triple digits Friday, breaking the previous record by three weeks. frank peters – stock.adobe.com Temperatures in Downtown Los Angeles might reach triple digits Friday, breaking the previous record by three weeks. frank peters – stock.adobe.com

“This is very anomalous heat for the month of March,” National Weather Service meteorologist Sebastian Westerink told Newsweek, nothing the region typically doesn’t see temperatures in the upper 90s or 100s until June.

Chief meteorologist for WFLA-TV i Tampa, Fla. Jeff Berardelli said Downtown LA might hit 100 on Friday — breaking the previous record of April 4 by three full weeks.

Officials warned the heat could pose a higher risk of illness for young children, older adults, people without cooling system and those who work outdoors, urging people to stay hydrated, avoid direct sunlight and remain in air-conditioned spaces when possible.


  Forecasters say above-normal temperatures could linger into the weekend and beyond. mbruxelle – stock.adobe.com Forecasters say above-normal temperatures could linger into the weekend and beyond. mbruxelle – stock.adobe.com

Forecasters say above-normal temperatures could linger into the weekend and beyond, according to outlooks from the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center.

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

California Post News: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedIn
California Post SportsFacebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X
California Post Opinion
California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!
California Post App: Download here!
Home delivery: Sign up here!
Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!


The first blast of heat was already being felt on the West Coast Thursday before it spreads inland through California and neighboring states.

A second — and potentially stronger — surge could arrive Monday, moving temperatures even higher and stretching the scorching conditions well into next week.

In California, the numbers are eye-popping. Temperatures in Los Angeles could climb past 100 degrees, while the San Francisco Bay Area may see readings approach 90 degrees — summer-like heat months ahead of schedule.

By Tuesday, roughly 26 million people across the West could be under moderate heat risk, according to federal forecasters, with some communities facing extreme heat levels and little relief even overnight.

Experts warn the timing makes the heat especially dangerous.

“This time of year, the body isn’t used to dealing with this level of heat,” meteorologists from the National Weather Service warned in a social media post. “These highs are more impactful now than they would be in July.”

Climate scientist Daniel Swain said the ridge of high pressure driving the event could become one of the strongest ever observed in the Southwest during March — and may keep rebuilding, extending the heat for a week or more.

The early scorcher is also raising alarm bells for California’s water supply.

After an unusually warm winter, mountain snowpack — a crucial source of water for the state — is already thin. Prolonged heat could accelerate snowmelt and deepen drought concerns across the region, while drying landscapes and increasing wildfire risk months before peak fire season.

If forecasts hold, the West could see seven to ten straight days of record-challenging temperatures — turning what should be the start of spring into something that feels a lot more like mid-July.

Comments
anonymous profile image
Powered by RoundtableBuilt on infrastructure designed for real-time media. Learn more at RTB.io.© Roundtable 2026. By using this site you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy