A brutal heat wave is sweeping across Southern California, intensifying fire danger to the region and increasing risks for heat-related illness.
The heat wave has come to the region as a heat dome builds over the US Southwest and West, reports Xinhua news agency.
Temperatures throughout Southern California are expected to reach as high as 44 degrees Celsius by Saturday, according to weather forecast.
An excessive heat watch has been issued for the western and eastern Antelope Valley foothills starting on Wednesday morning through Saturday evening, when temperatures could reach 43 degrees.
The peak of the excessive heat will strike Friday through Sunday, according to the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS).
Widespread high temperatures around 100 to 108 degrees are expected across the warmest valleys, including Woodland Hills, the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the San Gabriel Valley.
The NWS has issued excessive heat warnings for Southern and Central California, with temperatures expected to reach as high as 45 degrees in parts of Los Angeles County.
Los Angeles County has opened 167 cooling centres for residents, providing access to free, indoor air-conditioned facilities.
This heat wave is critical as many Southern Californians have not been acclimated to hot weather yet, outside of the brief warm up earlier this month, according to NWS meteorologist Eric Boldt.
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