Los Angeles
As of noon, numerous areas had exceeded 100 degrees including Burbank, Beverly Hills, Woodland Hills, Fullerton, Glendale and Riverside.
The 106-degree reading in Burbank set a new record for the day. One National Weather Service weather site showed a 112-degree reading in Beverly Hills.
In Silver Lake, a fire at a home quickly spread to brush along the 2 Freeway, prompting firefighters to call for more resources and air support. The freeway was closed in both directions near its terminus in the Echo Park section.
Los Angeles Fire Department choppers were making water drops on a neighborhood along the freeway and firefighters were working in backyards with hoses trying to prevent structure losses.
The LAFD said about 150 firefighters were on scene, trying to prevent the fire from moving west of Silver Ridge Avenue and east of Corralitas Drive.
The National Weather Service issued a red flag fire warning for large parts of the region because of extreme heat, low humidity and the potential for gusty winds.
The Sherpa fire in Santa Barbara County has already burned more than 7,800 acres, and firefighters have also been dealing with smaller blazes.
Forecasters said there was “potential for extreme fire behavior/rapid fire spread” of the Sherpa fire because of continued sundowner winds and hot temperatures.
Smoke from the fire is contributing to hazy conditions as far south as Los Angeles and Orange counties, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
Temperatures are expected to rise today, the first day of summer, in the heat wave forecast to last through Tuesday.
The blistering heat is the result of an upper-level ridge of high pressure that is building slowly over Southern California.
Joe Sirard, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said the system should start to weaken by Tuesday and temperatures should start to drop.