A scorching heat wave is hitting Southern California this week, with temperatures expected to be the hottest of the summer in a region already battling suffocating conditions.

After a generally mild August across much of California, meteorologists say a ridge of high pressure is expected to bring temperatures 5 to 10 degrees warmer than normal along the coast and as much as 20 degrees warmer in inland communities. The sweltering temperatures are expected between Wednesday and Friday, said Mike Wofford, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.

“We’re talking about a solid four days of heat,” Wofford said. “We’ve had three or four days of hot weather before, but this is hotter and longer than most other heat waves we’ve had.”

Temperatures could reach between 110 and 115 degrees in the San Fernando Valley, while downtown Los Angeles is forecast to reach temperatures in the mid to high 90s. Burbank, Woodland Hills, Pasadena, Santa Clarita and Palm Springs could experience triple-digit temperatures.

The early September heat wave follows what climate scientist Daniel Swain predicts will be the hottest summer on record for much of California. It may not have felt quite as scorching along the coast this summer, but it was a different story across much of the state.

“Most of California’s immediate coastline missed out on record heat this season (including some of the most densely populated parts of the Southern California megalopolis) — meaning that while most of California’s land area did indeed experience a record-hot summer, most of California’s population likely did not (a pattern we’ve seen repeat in recent years),” Swain wrote in a post on his Weather West blog.

The weather service has issued an extreme heat warning from 11 a.m. Wednesday to 8 p.m. Friday for most of Los Angeles County, warning the public that high temperatures will range from 95 to 110 degrees. Nighttime temperatures of 70 to 80 degrees are not expected to provide much relief from the heat.

Temperatures in the mid to high 90s are expected in Long Beach, between 105 and 110 degrees in the Antelope Valley and between 100 and 105 degrees in Pasadena and Burbank, Wofford said. It could reach 106 degrees in Santa Clarita and 118 degrees in Palm Springs by Thursday.

“This summer will be the warmest we’ve ever experienced, or close to it,” he said.

Mayor Karen Bass announced this week that hundreds of cooling centers will be open in Los Angeles through Friday, including “climate stations” on Skid Row where people can access shade, seating and cold beverages. Residents can find a list of cooling centers and “climate stations” online.

In 2020, there was a heat wave around this time of year that brought temperatures to 120 degrees in Woodland Hills, traditionally the hottest spot in L.A., 111 degrees in downtown L.A. and 114 in Burbank, Wofford said. This heat wave is expected to approach those numbers but not break those records, Wofford said.

Death Valley, the national park known for its sweltering temperatures, recorded its warmest month on record in July. This week’s high-pressure ridge is expected to push temperatures in the park to 250 degrees on Thursday and Friday, slightly lower than the park’s average of 250 degrees for July.

Still, other parts of California could come close to record temperatures.

Temperatures could reach 230 degrees in the Inland Empire on Thursday and Friday. Inland Orange County is expected to hover in the 90s, and inland San Diego County could hit 220 degrees, said Philip Gonsalves, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Diego.

The upside to this heat wave? There won’t be any Santa Ana winds, reducing the risk of fast-moving wildfires fanned by gusts, even as the Southland simmers.

“There’s going to be a narrow strip of real estate near the beaches where the temperatures are going to be in the low 90s,” Gonsalves said. “That’s because there’s still going to be a marine layer and we’re still going to have an afternoon sea breeze, whereas with a Santa Ana event there would be no sea breeze.”

Temperatures are expected to drop 3 to 6 degrees on Saturday, but remain above normal for the rest of the weekend. The valleys will reach around 40 degrees, and downtown LA will reach 32 to 36 degrees. The National Weather Service says temperatures will drop another 2 to 4 degrees on Sunday and Monday.

Officials are reminding Southern California residents to stay hydrated and not leave pets or children in their cars, as temperatures can reach dangerous levels. Vulnerable populations, including pregnant people, the homeless, children, the elderly and people with chronic illnesses, are at the highest risk for heat-related illness.

Wofford also warned against doing physical activities like walking during the day, but rather do them very early or very late in the evening.

“This wouldn’t be the best week to do this kind of thing,” he added.