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Your SoCal Weather Report For July 21: It's Scorching!
(
Courtesy NWS
)
If you're heading outside, make sure you're well-hydrated because the heat dome that's sitting over the southwest will be bringing temperatures up in Southern California today — in some places to dangerously high levels.
Quick Facts
- Today’s weather: Warm, sunny
- Beaches: mid 70s, upper 80s more south
- Mountains/deserts: mid 80s-90s/107-120
- Inland: 90s
- Warnings and advisories: Excessive heat warning, watch, heat advisories
Highs for most L.A. County and Orange County beaches will stay in the mid to upper 70s. Over in Palos Verdes, it'll be in the mid-90s and in Long Beach, we're seeing high 80s.
Downtown Los Angeles will be in the 80s to lower-90s, in the San Fernando Valley 90 to 101, 95 to 105 in the San Gabriel Valley, 100 to 107 in the Santa Clarita Valley and 99 to 109 in the Antelope Valley and the Inland Empire.
Coachella Valley highs will range from 118 to 122. Today's record high of 120 in Palm Springs is within reach.
Looking ahead to the weekend and next week, it will remain exceptionally hot in the valleys, mountains and deserts.
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About those advisories
Here's a list of areas in SoCal under heat advisories. Warnings in effect for the weekend:
- San Diego County Valleys and Santa Ana Mountains and Foothills
- Antelope Valley and adjacent foothills
- Coachella Valley, Palm Desert, San Diego County Deserts and San Gorgonio Pass Near Banning
- L.A. and Ventura Counties, San Gabriel and Santa Monica Mountains, Ventura County Mountains
For people in need of a place to get cool:
The South Coast Air Quality Management District has also extended their air quality advisory until Saturday for inland areas and the Coachella Valley.
How to stay safe during the heatwave
L.A. city officials are warning the heat may be dangerously high, particularly in the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys. Some signs to watch out for if you start to feel ill.
(
Courtesy City of L.A.
)
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
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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 pets
- 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 people
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," the CDC recommends).
This day in history
On July 21, 1986, a small tornado touched down in Barstow for three minutes.
Things to do
- Café Tacvba with the L.A. Phil: Mexico City’s legendary indie rock band continues its collaboration with Gustavo Dudamel and the L.A. Phil for two nights, Friday and Saturday, at the Hollywood Bowl.
Check out our full list of things to do this weekend.
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
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