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Season's first heat wave is expected to move in today
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More from County NewsA high-pressure system predicted to move into California today will bring the first heat wave of the season to Ventura County and the rest of the state, the National Weather Service reported.
The offshore flows resulting from the high atmospheric pressure will block the ocean's cool air and moisture and push temperatures into the 90s in local valleys beginning today, said Bill Hoffer, a spokesman for the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
The heat wave is expected to last through Sunday, with the highest temperatures predicted for today, Friday and Saturday.
Triple-digit temperatures are possible in Simi Valley, Hoffer said. On the coast, highs in the 80s and low 90s are expected.
Sea breezes are expected to blow into the county beginning Monday, and temperatures should continue to drop Tuesday.
The Ventura County Fire Department is boosting staffing levels for the first time this year to deal with the increased danger of quick-spreading fires during the heat wave, spokesman Capt. Barry Parker said. Extra dispatchers, hand crews, helicopters and water-carrying vehicles will be ready, he said.
Compared with other parts of the state, however, Ventura County is expected to get off fairly easy. Temperatures are expected to soar into triple digits in the San Fernando Valley, and heat watches are scheduled for a large swath of Northern California in the coming days.
State agencies Wednesday issued a statement urging residents to protect themselves from heat-related injuries and avoid wasting electricity to reduce the risk of power outages.
The state Department of Public Health advised people to limit outdoor activities during the hottest parts of the day and drink more fluids such as water, not alcohol or caffeinated beverages like soda and coffee.
The state Office of Emergency Services suggests residents set thermostats for 78 to 80 while at home and 85 while away.
Under regulations adopted in 2005, employers at outdoor work sites are required to take basic steps to prevent heat-related illness, such as making water available to employees and providing access to shade.
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