Pasadena faces 106-degree highs Thursday and Friday under an Extreme Heat Warning that replaced the earlier heat watch. An Air Quality Alert compounds the danger through 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28.
The National Weather Service upgraded the advisory for the San Gabriel Valley on Wednesday, Aug. 26, as temperatures reached dangerous levels, Colorado Boulevard reported. Wednesday's forecast called for a high of 106 degrees with a heat index of 109. Thursday's forecast calls for 105 degrees and a heat index of 108. Friday brings another 106-degree high before conditions ease over the weekend.
The upgrade marks a significant escalation from the heat watch the city announced Monday, when it opened its cooling center at Robinson Park.
"For much of L.A., this will likely be the hottest [week] of the year," National Weather Service meteorologist Ryan Kittell told the Los Angeles Times on Sunday, Aug. 23. "In the valleys, we're looking at anything between 100 and 110."
Overnight relief will be limited. Wednesday night temperatures dropped only to about 70 degrees, and similar lows are expected through Friday.
The concurrent Air Quality Alert means elevated ozone levels that can trigger asthma attacks and breathing problems. The city advises keeping windows and doors closed and avoiding swamp coolers or whole-house fans that pull in outside air.
Wildfire risk elevated
The National Weather Service also issued a Red Flag Warning for the interior mountains and adjacent foothills of Los Angeles County through 3 p.m. Friday. The warning cites the combination of extreme heat, gusty winds and low humidity. The Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday that the L.A. County Fire Department was "augmenting staffing and pre-positioning personnel and resources" for rapid wildfire response.
The Pasadena Fire Department recommends residents trim dry brush and dead trees within 100 feet of their homes and keep roofs and gutters clear of debris, according to the city's heat safety guidance.
Cooling centers and resources
Robinson Park Recreation Center, 1081 N. Fair Oaks Ave., is the city's designated cooling center. It is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Victory Park Recreation Center (2575 Paloma St.) and Villa Parke Community Center (363 E. Villa St.) also offer indoor relief during regular hours.
Pools and splash pads include John J. Kennedy Pool (1081 N. Fair Oaks Ave.), La Pintoresca Park Splash Pad (45 E. Washington Blvd., sunrise to sunset) and Rose Bowl Aquatics Center (360 N. Arroyo Blvd.). The Pasadena Ice Skating Center at 300 E. Green St. is another cool indoor option.
Pasadena Dial-A-Ride members can schedule rides to cooling locations at (626) 791-7200.
Safety tips
Los Angeles County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis said on Aug. 2, during a prior heat warning for the San Gabriel Valley, that "heat kills more people in the United States each year than floods, storms, and lightning combined." Older adults, young children, outdoor workers and people with chronic conditions face the highest risk.
County guidance calls for staying indoors from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and drinking two to four glasses of water per hour. Never leave children or pets in parked vehicles. Heat stroke symptoms requiring a 911 call include a body temperature of 103 degrees or higher, confusion, dizziness, nausea, rapid heartbeat or hot, dry skin.
Pasadena Water and Power urges customers to set thermostats to 78 degrees or higher and reduce energy use during peak hours of 4 to 9 p.m. For power emergencies, call (626) 744-4673.
Temperatures are forecast to drop to 101 degrees Saturday and 92 degrees Sunday. Residents can sign up for emergency alerts through the city's PLEAS system at CityOfPasadena.net/Fire/PLEAS or find additional cooling centers at ready.lacounty.gov/heat.
