Thursday is going to be another hot day across the area. Expect to start the day just barely below 80° inland and likely a couple degrees above it closer to the coast. We’ll warm back into the mid-90s during the day, and with dewpoints not mixing out quite as much — expect them to hang around in the mid-70s — we should see heat indices peak around 110° or so in the afternoon. This is certainly well into the danger zone for heat illness, so please do take it easy if you must be outside. There’s no Heat Advisory as of this writing, but don’t be surprised if one is issued by morning.

Attention then turns to the potential for showers and thunderstorms to move into the area in the afternoon and evening courtesy of a disturbance rounding a retreating ridge of high pressure. Most of these storms should be efficient rainfall and lightning producers, and a few of these storms could be on the strong side with damaging wind gusts the main concern. Hail can’t be ruled out, either. Stay alert to rapidly changing conditions as we get into tomorrow afternoon and evening, and don’t be surprised if there are evening commute impacts.

Fortunately, wildfire smoke will play much less of a role in Thursday’s weather as it continues to disperse southward.

Friday & the weekend: Another very hot day, then trending “cooler” as thunderstorm chances increase

Friday looks to be the capstone to the recent run of very hot temperatures we’ve had — perhaps the hottest of the set. Expect high temperatures in the upper 90s on Friday with heat indices likely exceeding 110° in spots in the afternoon, especially near the coast. I wouldn’t be shocked at all to see a Heat Advisory. A scattering of afternoon thunderstorms will be possible to cool some of us off — and a couple of these could once again be on the strong side — but don’t bank on them to give us all much in the way of relief.

Changes then start to take shape for the weekend as a trough to the north strengthens, breaking the ridge’s hold on the area and allowing temperatures to start to come down some as rain chances increase in the afternoons. Still, expect highs in the mid-90s Saturday with heat indices running up to around 105° before more numerous showers and thunderstorms fire off with heavy rain and lightning the main concerns. More widespread thunderstorms are expected Sunday afternoon and evening as highs only top out around 90° in the afternoon.

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