Simi, Santa Paula Nation’s Hot Spots

For a time Thursday afternoon, Santa Paula and Simi Valley were the warmest spots in the nation, both registering a blistering 101 degrees.

Then about 5 p.m., the Santa Barbara County town of Santa Ynez became the nation’s hot spot, hitting 103 degrees, according to Wes Etheredge of WeatherData Inc., which supplies meteorological information to The Times.

“They were tied for the nation’s high until Santa Ynez reported,” Etheredge said of the Ventura County cities.

If every city in Ventura County seemed to hit record high temperatures Thursday, Etheredge said, it was because winds across the region were light, blowing at 10 to 18 mph.

Ojai residents sweltered in 100-degree temperatures, while those in Thousand Oaks and Ventura baked in 94-degree heat.

Fillmore and Piru both reported highs of 98, while the mercury hit 88 at Point Mugu.

“The normals right now in Ventura County are between the mid-70s and low 80s,” Etheredge said. “These are unseasonably warm temperatures.”

Firefighters contended with similarly high temperatures on Wednesday fighting a small brush fire in Thousand Oaks. Initially reported at 10 acres, the blaze consumed 60 acres by the time it was contained. No structures were burned and no one was hurt.

Today’s forecast calls for more unseasonably warm weather. Sea breezes will be felt in the afternoon, but temperatures will still be in the mid-80s to upper 90s.

The good news, Etheredge said, is that significant cooling will occur Saturday, when onshore winds return.

Highs will be in the low 70s near the coast, and the low to mid-80s inland.