Your SoCal Weather Report For The Week Of July 16

Fiona Ng is LAist's deputy managing editor and leads a team of reporters who explore food, culture, history, events and more.

Published Jul 16, 2023 8:15 AM

Geothermal map of Southern California is dominated in deep reds and purples indicating extreme heat

Here's the good news: The worse of the heatwave is behind us. But, it's not over yet. Here's what is in store for the region for the rest of the week.

A record-breaking Saturday

Many parts of the region have been baking in triple-digit heat. And Saturday saw a few records broken, according to meteorologist David Sweet with the National Weather Service.

"The Paso Robles Airport [in San Luis Obispo] went to 112 degrees. Yesterday, that was a record also out in the Antelope Valley. Lancaster went to 112. Palmdale went to 111. And there was also a record high temperature of 102 at Sandberg and the San Gabriel Mountains," says Sweet.

Here is a list of our preliminary high temperature records for the day, along with the previous records and years they were set. FYI, New Cuyama tied a high of 105 deg, but is not an official climate site. #CAwx #SoCal #LAheat pic.twitter.com/nALllxn14G
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) July 16, 2023

Here's looking at Sunday

Temperatures today are going to be rather similar, says Sweet, with some locations potentially seeing a bit of a cool-off.

Looking forward to next week

Those temperatures continue into Tuesday, says Sweet, before we finally start to get a little bit of a break Wednesday into the remainder of the week, when temperatures drop a few degrees.

Remember to stay safe, stay cool and check on your loved ones.

The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat watch for through Tuesday.

Tips and resources

Tips to stay cool

Kiddie pool
Lotions in the fridge
Eat spicy foods in the basement (or on the floor) while wearing a damp shirt and listening to the rain setting on your white noise machine
Make sure ceiling fans are running counterclockwise
Wet paper towels. Fold into ankle and wrist cuffs. Freeze. Wear. Repeat.
Build a DIY AC
Build a mini cold air fan
Build an "evaporative cooler for immediate heat relief"
Make a barricade of fans and ice cubes
Go to an air-conditioned store and browse for as long as possible (Target is a good option for this).
Close all the curtains, preferably the heat-absorbing kind
Or open all the windows, depending on the breeze situation
Cool bath or shower twice a day
Wash your sheets before bed but don't dry them — put them on your bed damp (provided you're dealing with a dry heat)
Portable A/C unit

Staying safe in the heat

Don't wait until you're thirsty to drink water or electrolyte-replacements
Drink cool water, not extremely cold water (which can cause cramps)
Avoid sweetened drinks, caffeine, and alcohol

Protect a pet from excessive heat

Never leave a pet or animal in a garage
Never leave a pet or animal in a vehicle
Never leave a pet or animal in the sun
Provide shade
Provide clean drinking water

Protect a human from excessive heat

Check in frequently with family, friends, and neighbors. Offer assistance or rides to those who are sick or have limited access to transportation. And give extra attention to people most at risk, including:

Elderly people (65 years and older)
Infants
Young children
People with chronic medical conditions
People with mental illness
People taking certain medications (i.e.: "If your doctor generally limits the amount of fluid you drink or has you on water pills, ask how much you should drink while the weather is hot," says the CDC)