Temperatures in Pasadena will climb toward triple digits by Saturday, Oct. 3, the National Weather Service said, with the weekend forecast running 10 to 15 degrees above normal for late September, early October.
The NWS office in Oxnard issued the forecast early Tuesday, Sept. 29, as first reported by Pasadena Now. The agency projects a high near 89°F for Tuesday, followed by near 88°F on Wednesday, Sept. 30, near 92°F on Thursday, Oct. 1, near 95°F on Friday, Oct. 2, and near 98°F on both Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 4. Monday, Oct. 5, stays hot at near 97°F.
The weather service said heat advisories or warnings are likely by the end of the week. No formal advisory had been issued as of early Sept. 30.
Overnight lows will offer little relief. The NWS projects lows around 64°F on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, rising to 71°F by Saturday and Sunday nights. No rain is expected. Winds stay light in the city, though weak offshore flow could bring advisory-level gusts in mountain areas.
The agency urged residents without air conditioning to take precautions and recommended checking on vulnerable neighbors during the hottest hours. Pasadena's dense neighborhoods may feel the heat more intensely because of the urban environment.
The weather service expects well-above-normal temperatures to persist into the first two weeks of October.
Where to cool off
The City of Pasadena had not issued an advisory specific to the current heat wave as of Tuesday morning. During an August heat event, the city designated Robinson Park Recreation Center at 1081 N. Fair Oaks Ave. as an official cooling center, open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hours for the current heat wave have not been confirmed.
The city also pointed residents to Victory Park Recreation Center at 2575 Paloma St. and Villa Parke Community Center at 363 E. Villa St. as indoor relief sites during that August event. Pasadena Public Library branches, including Allendale, Hastings, Hill Avenue and La Pintoresca, offered air-conditioned spaces. Call (626) 744-7260 for current hours.
Pasadena Water and Power (PWP) advises customers to reduce energy use between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m., set thermostats to 78°F or higher and close blinds during the hottest part of the day. For power emergencies, call PWP at (626) 744-4673.
Pasadena Transit serves cooling centers and libraries. Dial-A-Ride members can call (626) 791-7200 for ride appointments.
Residents can sign up for the Pasadena Local Emergency Alert System, known as PLEAS, at CityOfPasadena.net/Fire/PLEAS/ to receive text and voice alerts during emergencies.
