The heat is here until the weekend. Tips on how to keep yourself and your furry friends safe

We've seen high heat in the Southland over the past few days, but it's not over yet.

More high heat expected across the Southland today.

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Courtesy NWS

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The heat will stick around bringing mid 90s to triple digits in the valleys and foothills. Coasts will stay cool with fog in the morning and low clouds at night — daytime highs will be in the 70s and mid 80s. An excessive heat warning will be in effect through today in our valleys.

While forecasters say Friday will be 5 degrees cooler, an excessive heat watch will be in effect Saturday through Monday for the Santa Clarita, San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys.

Stay away from the ocean

L.A. County public health officials are warning Angelenos to stay away from these nine beaches due to high levels of bacteria:

• Windward storm drain at Venice Beach
  100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain.
• Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey
  The entire swim area.
• Walnut Creek at Paradise Cove
  The entire swim area.
• Marie Canyon Storm Drain at Puerco Beach
  100 yards up and down the coast from the public access steps.
• Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro
  The entire swim area.
• Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica
  100 yards up and down the coast from the pier.
• Topanga Canyon Beach in Malibu
  100 yards up and down the coast from the lagoon.
• Manhattan Beach Pier in Manhattan Beach
  100 yards up and down the coast from the pier.
• Las Flores Creek at Las Flores State Beach
  100 yards up and down the coast from the creek.

High heat inland

Excessive heat continues until tonight for 8 p.m. for inland areas and valleys where the hottest parts could reach up to 103 degrees — that's a few degrees cooler than yesterday.

Orange County inland areas will top out in the high 80s. And foothill communities will be hot, with highs around 100 degrees. Coachella Valley will see highs up to 113 degrees.

In times of high heat, it's important to stay indoors, hydrated and cool. Make sure you know the difference between heat stroke vs. heat exhaustion.

Tonight's lows will provide some relief — down to the 70s for the warmest valleys, in the 60s closer to the coast. Desert lows will drop to the 60s in the high desert, low 80s and mid 70s for the low desert.

Cooling centers

In response to the heat, the city of L.A. has activated five cooling centers today from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

• Fred Roberts
  4700 S. Honduras Street LA 90011
• Jim Gilliam Recreation Center
  4000 S. La Brea Avenue LA
• Sunland Senior Center
  8640 Fenwick Street, Sunland 91040
• Mid-Valley Senior Citizen Center
  8825 Kester Avenue, Panorama City 91402
• Lincoln Heights Senior Center
  2323 Workman Street, LA 90031

Fire threat

Forecasters have issued a red flag warning for the 5 Freeway and Highway 14 corridors, including the western San Gabriel Mountains. High temperatures up to 106 degrees are possible and, coupled with gusty winds up to 25 mph and low humidity, could create the risk of wildfires. That warning is in effect until 8 p.m. Thursday.

How to keep pets safe

It's scorching out there and your furry friends are feeling it. Here are some tips to keep them safe during the heat.

Never leave them in a parked car.

If the humidity is too high, dogs will struggle to cool themselves off by panting and can overheat.

Keep their paws off hot pavement!

And make sure your pets have access to clean water and shade.

If your dog has glazed eyes, a rapid heartbeat or even heavy panting, that's a sign of heat exhaustion. To cool them down, apply ice packs or cold towels to their head, neck and chest. Soak their feet in water and let them rest in the shade with plenty of cool water to drink.