SoCal’s severe heat wave sets record temps; dangerous conditions will stick around

A brutal heatwave hit historic highs for parts of Southern California on Sunday, with new record temperatures set in several cities, including in the Antelope and Coachella valleys.

But the National Weather Service has warned that these numbers are preliminary, and the weather isn’t going to change over the next few days, so we could see the highs creep up even more before it's expected to cool off into next weekend.

“We're going to continue to see, you know, probably records being cliffed, or being near that every day through this week,” Todd Hall, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, told LAist.

Antelope Valley

Palmdale reached 114 degrees on Sunday, breaking the 35-year-old daily record high of 110 degrees.

It was even hotter in neighboring Lancaster with temperatures reaching 115 degrees on Sunday. That broke the daily record of 110 degrees set in 2017 and 1989, as well as the July monthly high by a single degree.

Both areas also had their fourth day above 110 degrees over the weekend, which Hall said set a new record for the most consecutive days since the National Weather Service started keeping track of Palmdale in 1931 and Lancaster in 1945.

Sandberg saw 101 degrees on Sunday as well, breaking the old record set in 2018.

Palmdale, Lancaster, and the rest of the Antelope Valley are under an excessive heat warning until at least 9 p.m. Saturday.

Riverside County

The desert city of Palm Springs reached 124 degrees on Friday, breaking the previous all-time-high of 123 degrees, according to NWS.

Idyllwild in the San Jacinto Mountains got up to 104 degrees, which tied the temperature record previously set in June 2021 and September 2020.

Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley are under an excessive heat warning until at least 9 p.m. Thursday, while Idyllwild and the Riverside County Mountains are under a heat advisory for the same time period.

“This is exceptional from the standpoint that it's going for an extended period of time,” Hall said. “We have a very stubborn high pressure system that's refusing to budge.”

Tips to keep in mind during extreme temperatures 

Be mindful of hydration and heat this week, Hall said, especially if you’ll be spending time outside.

One person died and another was taken to Las Vegas to be treated for severe heat illness this weekend after traveling through Death Valley on motorcycles, the National Park Service confirmed in a statement.

Temperatures reached 128 degrees on Saturday, breaking Death Valley’s previous record from 2007.

“If you're working outdoors the next couple days, you know, take more frequent breaks,” Hall said. “Avoid the midday sun if possible, drink plenty of water, try and avoid alcoholic drinks.”

And listen to your body. If you’re already feeling hot at home, it might not the best time to go on that hike.