Heat, Thunderstorms Possible In Hollywood To Mark Start Of Summer

HOLLYWOOD, CA — Just in time to welcome the first day of summer, temperatures rose across Southern California on Tuesday, with many regions experiencing muggy, sweltering temperatures upwards of 90 degrees, weather service officials said.

The possibility of thunderstorms and showers were also on the horizon for some areas on Wednesday and Thursday, but forecasters said the storms, which could include dry lightning, would offer little precipitation to quell the state’s severe drought.

On its Twitter page, the weather service warned of an elevated fire danger "through the coming week due to hot conditions with low humidity."

The agency noted "a risk of dry lightning" and cautioned that "any new fire start will grow quickly!"

"Rainfall totals will be minimal from the setup this week," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Heather Zehr.

Wherever rain falls, it is likely to be less than 0.25 of an inch and may only amount to a few hundredths of an inch, according to AccuWeather.

Across Hollywood, temperatures were expected to hover around the upper 80s Tuesday, rising slightly for the rest of the week, while staying in the upper 60s to mid 70s along the coast, according to AccuWeather.

Along with the brief monsoonal weather, the potential for fire danger was expected to rise Tuesday night through Wednesday across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, the National Weather Service said.

The valleys and mountains were expected to experience wind gusts peaking in the 35 mph to 50 mph range. Low humidity from 8 percent to 18 percent was expected to persist across the mountains and deserts throughout the week.

As usual, during heat waves, forecasters urged people to drink plenty of fluids, seek out air-conditioned spaces and check in on vulnerable relatives and neighbors.

"Extreme heat will significantly increase the potential for heat-related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities," according to the NWS.

"Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. This is especially true during warm or hot weather when car interiors can reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes."

City News Service contributed to this report.