Federal forecasters are warning of a heat wave this weekend, with temperatures potentially reaching 110 degrees in the Southwest
If you were counting on a leisurely Mother’s Day brunch outside this weekend, you may want to reconsider.
A heat wave is set to bring triple-digit temperatures to parts of Southern California, federal forecasters warned Monday, ending weeks of cooler-than-average weather.
As recently as this week, the region has been sitting under the overcast, marine-layer mornings that make May in LA feel almost like fall. But that’s about to change. KTLA meteorologist Vera Jimenez says temperatures are expected to shift to warmer by Wednesday, as a ridge of high pressure squeezes out the marine influence and sends temperatures rising sharply.
The peak heat is expected on Sunday, May 10. The Inland Empire and Antelope Valley could see highs in the 100s to 105s. At the same time, the desert Southwest, including parts of Arizona and Nevada, faces even more dangerous conditions, with temperatures potentially reaching 110. Downtown Los Angeles and other coastal areas, as usual, get something of a reprieve. The coast is forecast to be sunny and breezy, with a high of 75 degrees — a more than 30-degree difference from conditions just miles inland.
Triple-digit heat is likely for parts of California and the Southwest late this weekend into next week, with highs potentially reaching 110 degrees F in the Desert Southwest, and 100 to 105 degrees F in southern sections of the Central Valley of CA. pic.twitter.com/TRuH3Ako1y
— NWS Climate Prediction Center (@NWSCPC) May 4, 2026
“High pressure will move into the region bringing a warming trend with drier weather for the remainder of the week, along with increased heat risk for inland valleys and deserts,” the National Weather Service wrote in its forecast on Monday.
A heat wave of this magnitude in early May is uncommon. Historically, triple-digit temperatures in the Inland Empire don’t typically arrive until June or July, meaning this weekend’s weather is running four to six weeks ahead of schedule.
The National Weather Service is urging residents of inland valleys and desert communities to take the heat risk seriously. This means staying hydrated, checking on elderly neighbors and pets and limiting outdoor activity during peak afternoon hours (about 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.).
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The heat is expected to persist into early next week before any gradual cooling returns. This is, in other words, an unofficial arrival of summer in Southern California.