Epic Southern California heat wave poses deadly health threat

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A record-breaking heat wave will scorch Southern California this week, raising temperatures up to 35 degrees above normal for March and heightening concerns about heat-related illness and deaths.After a brief reprieve from sweltering temperatures over the weekend, dangerous heat once again descended on the region Monday, bringing a host of warnings from the National Weather Service.

Temperatures are expected to peak Tuesday through Friday, with the mercury rising into the 80s along the coast and into the 90s and past the 100-degree mark inland, likely shattering records.“It looks like it’s going to be a historic heat wave,” said Robbie Monroe, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.

“This could be the hottest March heat wave we’ve ever had, depending on how it plays out.” The weather service issued a heat advisory starting at 10 a.m.Monday and lasting through 10 a.m.

Tuesday.By Tuesday morning, the advisory will become an extreme heat warning that will remain until 8 p.m.

Friday for much of the Los Angeles County area including Woodland Hills, East Los Angeles, Thousand Oaks, Beverly Hills, Glendale and Westlake Village.The weather service warns of dangerously hot conditions with temperatures between 96 and 104 degrees.

California Downtown Los Angeles could hit 101 degrees and Glendale may reach 104 degrees on Tuesday as a record-shattering March heat wave grips the region.Adding to the heat stress, it’s expected to stay relatively warm overnight, with lows in the mid-60s to mid-70s, Monroe said.“In fact, it’ll be so warm overnight that they’ll be close to our average high temperatures for March for many areas,” he said.

“The warmest foothills might not even dip below 80 degrees at times, which would be near, if not above, normal high temperatures for some of those areas.” The lingering overnight heat significantly increases t...