Hot? County Residents Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet

Turn on the air-conditioning and bust out the fan.

Ventura County recorded the warmest day of the year Saturday as the mercury climbed into the 90s in Ojai, Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks. And even hotter temperatures are forecast for this week.

“Overall, it is the hottest day so far and it’s going to be a very hot week,” said Rob Krohn, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Oxnard.

Ojai and Simi Valley recorded the highest temperatures Saturday at 92 degrees. It was 90 in Thousand Oaks, 77 in Oxnard and 75 in Ventura.

Although individual cities have seen hotter days--like a sweltering 96-degree day in Simi Valley recently--overall temperatures countywide made Saturday the warmest day of the year, Krohn said.

The hot weather is being caused by a high-pressure pocket hanging over the southernmost portion of the state, a condition that is not expected to change for at least a week, Krohn said.

Temperatures today could reach into the upper 70s along the coast and the mid-90s in the valleys. The mercury could approach 100 degrees in Simi Valley and Ojai. Morning low clouds and fog will be present today and possibly Monday in Ventura, but are expected to burn off early.

“By Tuesday and the end of the week, there’s not going to be any low clouds or fog,” Krohn said. “It’s warmer than average but it is not unusual to have this kind of heat for July.”

Summer’s first heat wave drove thousands of people to the coast Saturday. By midafternoon, lifeguards had responded to eight ocean rescues triggered by strong rip currents and large crowds at San Buenaventura State Beach.

“It is a pretty heavy beach day,” said Scott Parrish, seasonal supervisor with the California Park Service.

“We’ve had a couple thousand and they are still coming,” he said of the throng of beach-goers. “It’s going to be a busy weekend. This is where the release is--the release from the heat.”