Heat Wave Continues to Deliver Scorching Temperatures to Western U.S.

Temperatures have soared over the century mark in many areas of the western U.S. over the past week as an early September heat wave has gripped the region. When will relief arrive? Read on for all of the details.

West Coast Remains Under Core of Heat Dome

A northward bulge in the jet stream has resulted in a lingering heat wave across the bulk of the West Coast. The mercury has topped the 100-degree threshold in several communities, including Los Angeles and Portland. While the core of this heat dome will begin to shift to the east, the slow movement is not expected to happen until early next week for the coastal portion of Southern California.

The bulge in the jet stream is forecast to begin to fall apart later this weekend. This collapse will pave the way for cooler air to come into the region from the Pacific Ocean. The coastal part of the Pacific Northwest will be the first to experience the cooler weather while California will need to wait until early next week.

Seattle will be the first major city to see the temperatures slip. After hovering in the 90s on Thursday and Friday, the Emerald City will max out in the 80s on Saturday. By Sunday and Monday, the metro area will land in the 70s for highs. Readings in the 60s will feel downright chilly in Seattle by the middle of the week.

The temperature change will be more gradual to the south in Portland. The Rose City will still be hanging around in the 80s for afternoon highs through Monday. The mercury will begin to drop on Tuesday but will still remain in the 70s for most of next week. The exception to this forecast will be on Wednesday when rain showers and the presence of clouds will keep the mercury in the mid to upper 60s for highs.

San Francisco has not experienced the heat wave to the same degree as the rest of the West Coast. This means that the temperature change in this area will not be as dramatic. You can expect highs to bounce around in the 70s for the area through next week with a slight dip on Monday and Tuesday when readings may top out in the upper 60s.

It has been a different story in Southern California. Downtown Los Angeles reached a high of 102 degrees on Thursday. The City of Angels is expecting temperatures to hover in the upper 90s and low 100s through Sunday with the exception of the communities right on the coast. The start of the new work week will bring highs in the 90s, however, temperatures will moderate on Tuesday with readings in the 80s for the next few days after that. The long-range forecast is calling for highs to max out in the upper 70s by Thursday and Friday with the arrival of more clouds.

Los Angeles has been the epicenter of the heat in recent days. The heat wave is now distinguished as the worst of its kind in two years. The metro area is under an excessive heat warning until 8 pm local time on Monday.

While it has not been quite as toasty in San Diego, the city has still seen highs surge high enough to warrant a heat advisory until Monday evening. The mercury will fall back into the 80s on Monday and Tuesday before returning to more seasonable levels in the 70s beginning on Wednesday.

The Central Valley of California is forecast to see highs in the mid 90s to the low 100s for the weekend. For instance, Fresno will continue to see high readings in the low 100s though Monday. Tuesday will bring a high of 98 degrees, only slightly cooler. The temperatures will dip to about the 90-degree mark on Wednesday before landing in the 80s on Wednesday and Thursday.