The Orange County and Santa Ana Mountains area is the focus of an extreme heat watch released at 1:10 p.m. on Saturday by the National Weather Service. The watch is valid from Tuesday 10 a.m. until Friday Aug. 28, at 8 p.m.

“Temperatures 90 to 97 for Inland Orange County, 90 to 102 for the San Diego County Valleys, 98 to 106 for the Inland Empire and 89 to 100 in the mountains. Temperatures increase another few degrees into the middle and end of next week, making for a prolonged and dangerous stretch of heat,” can be anticipated according to the NWS San Diego CA. “Low temperatures 5 to 10 degrees above normal will limit relief from the heat. Increasing temperatures into the middle of next week will increase the threat of heat-related illness across populations.”

“Heat related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat events. Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses,” according to the NWS.

The full list of affected locations includes:

Santa Ana Mountains/Foothills
Orange County
San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys
San Diego County Inland Valleys
Riverside County Mountains
San Diego County Mountains


Staying safe in high temperatures

Safety tips from the Environmental Health and Safety office at UC Irvine:

Drink water: Drinking plenty of water frequently is vital for those exposed to heat. An individual may produce as much as 2 to 3 gallons of sweat per day. To replenish that fluid you should drink 3 to 4 cups of water every hour.
Take breaks: Taking breaks in a cool shaded area and allowing time for recovery from the heat during the day are effective ways to avoid heat-related illness.
Avoid some beverages: Avoid or limit the use of alcohol and caffeine during periods of extreme heat. Both dehydrate the body.
Stop and rest: If you start to feel symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, weakness or unusual fatigue, rest in a cool shaded area. If symptoms persist or worsen seek immediate medical attention.
Clothing: Whenever possible, wear clothing that provides protection from the sun but allows airflow to the body. Protect your head and shade your eyes when outdoors.
Be prepared: When in the heat be sure to pay extra attention to those you’re with and be sure you know how to call for medical attention.

For information about cooling centers operated by Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, see https://ready.lacounty.gov/heat/, https://ocgov.com/cooling-centers, https://capriverside.org/cool-centers and DPH.

For more local weather alerts, visit our Weather Advisory page