Public Safety
Extreme heat warnings expand across Southern California
Warnings now cover Orange County, the Inland Empire and San Diego through October 8, while Los Angeles and Ventura remain under a long-duration heat watch.
The National Weather Service upgraded extreme heat watches to warnings early October 1 for Orange County, the Inland Empire and San Diego County from 10 a.m. Friday, October 2, through 8 p.m. Thursday, October 8. Los Angeles and Ventura County coasts and valleys remain under an extreme heat watch for the same period.
What it means locally
Forecasters expect highs in the upper 90s to 106 across Inland Empire and San Diego valleys, the mid-to-upper 90s inland in Orange County, and up to 105 in Los Angeles and Ventura valleys. Even coastal areas face unusually hot days and warm nights, limiting overnight relief. The National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard office said heat could persist into the second week of October, and the Los Angeles Times reported forecasters see a possibility of conditions lasting into mid-month. Residents should stay hydrated, use air-conditioned spaces, limit sun exposure, check on vulnerable neighbors, and never leave children or pets in vehicles. Readers should follow current National Weather Service alerts because timing and severity can change. The accompanying photograph shows the World's Tallest Thermometer in Baker in June 2009 and is archival; it does not depict the October 2026 heat event.
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