SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - Welcome to summer in sunny San Diego! A potentially dangerous heat wave has descended upon the San Diego region where we set a record high temperature for the entire county Tuesday in Ocotillo Wells: 124 degrees.
The National Weather Service issued an excessive heat warning for the deserts that will last until 9 p.m. Thursday. A less severe but still important heat advisory was also issued for the valleys and mountains with altitudes lower than 5,000 feet. It will expire Wednesday at 9 p.m.
San Diego's beach areas aren't included in the heat advisory, but those attempting to escape the inland heat will have to watch out for potentially dangerous rip and longshore currents. There is a beach hazards statement in effect through Thursday night.
Cleveland National Forest announced an emergency closure order for Three Sisters Falls due to high temperatures and public safety concerns.
Emergency closure order in affect today and tomorrow for Three Sisters Falls due to high heat and public safety concerns; 5 Med evac's today
— Cleveland NF (@ClevelandNF) June 20, 2017
Temperatures also soared around the county.
It's official! #PalmSprings has tied their rec high of 122 deg @ 213pm. Will they tie the all-time rec of 123 deg? Stay tuned...#cawx
— NWS San Diego (@NWSSanDiego) June 20, 2017
The manager of the state's power grid issued a statewide Flex Alert, which will be in effect from 2 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. During the Flex Alert, residents are asked to voluntarily conserve electricity to reduce demand on the system.
Flex-Alert suggestions include:
- set thermostat at 78 degrees or higher
- close drapes and use fans to cool rooms
- turn off unnecessary lights and appliances
- delay using major appliances until early morning or late evening
"This Flex Alert is really asking for statewide conservation and there are things that all of us can do ... a lot of us tend to get home and maybe we'll run the dishwasher or maybe we'll do a load of laundry," Brian D'Agostino, an SDG&E meteorologist, said. "What we'd ask is if you can, you know the state's asking let's hold off until after 9 o'clock to do some of those things so we can really spread out that big peak now, which comes when all of us get home from work."
- The elderly, children, disabled and those unaccustomed to the heat are more susceptible to heat-related illness and should take precautions to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water, wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing and be on the lookout for symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
To help residents beat the heat, more than 100 locations around the county have been designated as Cool Zones. Those looking to escape the scorching outdoor temperatures can visit any of these air-conditioned spots.
Meteorologists like 10News' Megan Parry suggest rescheduling strenuous activities to the early morning or late evening.
And finally, authorities warn that children, seniors and pets should never be left in parked cars during a heat wave. Cars can heat up to deadly levels in mere minutes, even with a window partially open.
Reminder: Californians can intervene if they see a dog is left inside a dangerously hot car. Take these steps before you break a window to save a pup's life:
- Call law enforcement to report the perilous situation
- Make sure there aren't other ways to enter the vehicle. Door unlocked?
- If you can't wait for law enforcement to arrive, use no more force than necessary to enter the vehicle and remove the dog
Sandy Coronilla is a KGTV digital producer. Follow her @10NewsSandy
