Excessive Heat in California

The monster, upper-level ridge is now giving much of California a dose of high heat. In fact, this is going to be some of the hottest and the longest stretch of high heat many have seen this summer.

Here are some 1 p.m. observations around Southern California.

High temperatures have not even been reached away from the beaches with many places already in the 90s to just over 100.

Tomorrow through Friday, high temperatures are probably going to be a little hotter each day with the hottest day being Friday. Highs will be from the upper 80s to middle to upper 90s in the coastal plain inland from the beaches to triple digits in all the valleys. Highs are likely to be between 102 and 110 in the valleys, but some of the hottest places can get up to 112 or so Thursday and Friday. Not that those couple of degrees are going to mean much. The only place to cool off will be right at the beaches. Even there it will still be warm with middle 70s to lower 80s.

It's not only hot in Southern California but in central and north-central sections too, away from the immediate coast. Places from the interior coastal valleys to the East Bay and Napa Valley to the Central Valley will also have high heat with temperatures from the mid-90s to low 100s East Bay area and Napa Valley to the 105- to 112-degree range in the Central Valley tomorrow through Friday.

My best advice is to stay inside as much as possible, preferably with air conditioning. It would be highly recommended that if you must run or exercise outside you do so early in the day or in the evening. This kind of heat is especially tough on the young and older people, and also for all pets. Be kind to your pets. Keep them inside and do not take them anywhere in the car that has to be parked even for a minute or two. If the pet has to be outside, make sure there is plenty of fresh water available.