Orange County Coast, Orange County, San Diego County Coastal Areas, San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys and San Diego County Inland Valleys are the focus of an extreme heat watch released at 10:31 a.m. on Friday by the National Weather Service. The watch is valid from Monday 10 a.m. until Friday March 20, at 8 p.m.

“Dangerously hot conditions with temperatures of 85 to 90 degrees near the coast, up to 105 inland,” can be anticipated according to the NWS San Diego CA. “Slightly cooler this weekend. High temperatures next week will be 20 to potentially 30 degrees above normal for this time of year, where record breaking heat is likely.”

“Early time of year and prolonged nature of this heat event will lead to increased risk of heat illness, especially for vulnerable populations and those without cooling systems,” the NWS said.


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