Cooling trend in the forecast

The Antelope Valley will bake for one more day before the three-day heat wave gives way to a cooling trend.

Lower temperatures are expected to kick in Saturday, helped by a return of onshore winds, according to National Weather Service forecasts. Saturday’s highs will be about one to five degrees lower than Friday’s 100-plus degrees in the Antelope Valley.

“High pressure and offshore flow will bring above-normal temperatures through Saturday,” according to the NWS. “The high will weaken Sunday for a cooling trend and below-normal temperatures by mid next week. An upper-level trough over the West Coast will bring increasing onshore flow and spread coastal clouds and fog inland each night through morning next week.”

Forecasters urged people to protect themselves and their loved ones. They said residents should stay well-hydrated, avoid working in the sun, check on neighbors and relatives — especially the elderly — and provide plenty of water to pets and livestock.

It is also critically important never to leave children, the elderly or pets in closed cars parked in hot weather, forecasters stressed.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power urged customers Friday to conserve energy to prevent stress on the power grid.

“During times of extreme heat, we strongly encourage customers to conserve electricity as long as it does not jeopardize their own health or the health of their pets,” DWP General Manager Marcie Edwards said.

On Thursday, when the heat wave kicked in, DWP energy demand reached its highest level this year, 5,679 megawatts. DWP officials said they expect similar demand Friday.

The utility’s all-time record for power demand is 6,396 megawatts, set on Sept. 16, 2014.

DWP officials said conserving energy is especially critical between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., when use is traditionally the highest.

Customers were urged to conserve by taking steps such as:

• Setting thermostats to 78 degrees or higher;
• Limiting the use of major appliances during peak hours;
• Closing drapes and blinds to reduce heat;
• Turning off lights and other equipment when not in use; and
• Unplugging items like cellphone chargers, DVD players and microwave ovens that can use energy even when turned off.

No specific weather advisory was issued for Los Angeles County as of Friday morning, but a heat advisory issued by the National Weather Service monitoring station in San Diego will be in force from noon to 6 p.m. in inland areas of Orange County.

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