Alaskan Front Expected to Push Aside Valley Heat

The heat wave won’t break today, but at least it will bend a little.

And by the weekend, temperatures should finally be back to normal, perhaps even a little cooler.

Rick Dittmann, a meteorologist with WeatherData Inc., said a trough of low-pressure air from the Gulf of Alaska should move over California during the next couple of days, shoving out the immense dome of high pressure that has kept the San Fernando Valley roasting for almost two weeks.

The cooling trend in the Valley, where readings as high as 108 were recorded earlier this week, will also be felt in the San Gabriel Valley and elsewhere in the Southland. The thermometers shouldn’t get much above 100 today, followed by top readings in the upper 90s on Friday and the mid- to low 90s on Saturday.

The high temperature at the Los Angeles Civic Center should be about 88 degrees today, down from highs of 94 on Tuesday and Wednesday. By Friday, the downtown high should be in the mid-80s, and by Saturday, the top reading should be about 80, roughly 4 degrees below normal for this time of year.

Temperatures will be cooler in the mountains, too, with resort level highs between 70 and 85 over the weekend.

Things should stay about the same early next week, with temperatures remaining at, or slightly below, normal.

“The marine air will start moving inland again,” Dittmann said. “That means a little fog and low clouds along the coast. It should be pretty nice.”

And Southern Californians may start reaching for a blanket or two at night, the forecaster said. Overnight lows should dip into the mid-60s by Friday and the low 60s by the weekend.

HOT VALLEY SCHOOLS ADJUST: B2