Orange County set a new heat record Wednesday, but the mercury hardly tells the full story thanks to unusual humidity that made 108 feel more like 115 degrees.
Extreme heat and oppressive humidity will continue across much of Southern California Thursday, with forecasters expecting some cooling Friday as well as relief from the humidity ushered in by Tropical Storm Marie.
Santa Ana heated up to 108 degrees, shattering the record of 103 set in 2024. Anaheim also set a new record by reaching 107 degrees, breaking the record of 104 set in 2024.
Several heat records were set in the area Wednesday. Long Beach reached 107 degrees, breaking the record for the date of 103 set in 2015. Downtown Los Angeles reached 105, tying the record set in 2024. Escondido reached a scorching 112 degrees, breaking the previous record for the date by 8 degrees.
An extreme heat warning will remain in effect until 8 p.m. Thursday for much of Orange County, according to the National Weather Service.
"Humidity will still remain elevated on Thursday, resulting in continued significant heat issues," according to the NWS.
The NWS said it will keep the extreme heat warnings in effect through Thursday evening because "even with the cooling, many areas would be well within advisory criteria."
Temperatures Thursday are expected to be anywhere from 4 to 10 degrees cooler than they were on Wednesday before falling another 4-6 degrees Friday in most places, according to the National Weather Service. After that, the cooldown will be more dramatic, with daytime highs being roughly 15 degrees cooler Sunday than Thursday, according to forecasters.
Laguna Niguel's daytime high is forecast to be 87 degrees Thursday and 76 by Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.
The cooldown comes as a high-pressure system weakens and onshore flow increases, while little change is expected across interior areas.
A noticeable cooling trend is expected Friday and Saturday as onshore flow increases, the marine layer begins to return, and high pressure continues to weaken, forecasters said.
By Sunday, a more tranquil weather pattern is expected to settle over Southern California, with temperatures in most areas about 5 to 10 degrees below seasonal averages through Wednesday.
The heat came as Southern California continued recovering from high surf and coastal flooding generated by Hurricane Marie, which damaged beachfront properties in Long Beach, Dana Point and Malibu earlier this week.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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