Los Angeles is bracing for a lengthy heat wave as a Texas weather system expands westward and begins pulling moisture from Southern California’s terrain.
Heat warnings extend from Santa Barbara on California’s central coast to the U.S.-Mexico border more than 200 miles (322 kilometers) southeast. Temperatures in downtown Los Angeles are expected to approach 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) every day through Friday, according to the National Weather Service. A little inland, daily highs in the Los Angeles area’s San Fernando Valley are expected to be near 110 degrees.
The heat could further dry out plants and soil around Southern California. Even before this period of hot weather, vegetation was ready to support fires, said Cody Snell, a meteorologist with the U.S. Weather Prediction Center.
He said “any wind” could be enough to spread the fire.
While fire season has become a year-round phenomenon in California, the risk tends to rise in the Los Angeles area with the arrival of Santa Ana winds in late fall and winter. In Santa Barbara County, the weather service said extremely warm “sunset” winds are expected to blow down from the mountains every night this week.
Above: A surfer rides a wave in front of the Malibu Pier on August 21, 2026 in Malibu, California. Bloomberg.
Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.
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