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A heat wave will send temperatures soaring across the Pasadena area this week, with Wednesday highs approaching 100 degrees before a significant weekend cooldown, according to the National Weather Service.
Forecasters explained Monday that a strong ridge of high pressure moving over Southern California will produce temperatures 15 to 20 degrees above normal during the peak of the heat event.
“People planning outdoor activities for this two day period should take precautions to avoid heat-related dangers,” NWS meteorologists said in their forecast discussion.
Monday’s conditions started the warming trend with sunny skies and temperatures reaching 83 degrees in Pasadena. The heat will intensify Tuesday as highs climb to around 91.
Wednesday will mark the hottest day of the week when temperatures are expected to reach 97 degrees in Pasadena. Thursday will remain hot with highs near 93 degrees.
Unusually warm overnight temperatures will compound the heat risk. A strong temperature inversion around 1,000 feet will prevent significant cooling overnight, creating potentially dangerous conditions.
“Warmer than normal highs and lows will combine to bring moderately dangerous heat conditions to the valleys and lower mountain elevations,” the weather service said.
Relief will begin Friday as a trough moves through the region, bringing stronger onshore flow and dropping temperatures to around 90 degrees. The cooling trend accelerates Saturday, with highs falling to near 78 degrees.
No precipitation is expected throughout the forecast period, and winds will remain relatively light at 5 to 10 mph.
While no formal heat advisories have been issued yet, forecasters noted conditions will approach advisory criteria, particularly in valley locations like Pasadena.
The dramatic temperature swing from Wednesday’s peak of 97 degrees to Saturday’s more moderate 78 degrees represents a nearly 20-degree drop in just three days.
Here is the latest forecast for Pasadena from the National Weather Service as of 3:18 a.m. on Monday, May 19:
Today: Sunny, with a high near 83. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 58. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 91. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 64. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.
Wednesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 93.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 90.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 78.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 79.
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