California heat wave smashes records, but the worst is still to come

An unusual October heat wave — still yet to peak across California — has already set records across the state and brought unseasonably hot weather to cities all across the state from Redding through San Diego.

The triple-digit temperatures in many parts of the state have put millions of Californians under heat advisories lasting through at least Thursday — and even longer in the state’s desert communities near Nevada and Arizona.

“Record high temperatures were smashed today at several locations,” the National Weather Service’s Los Angeles account said on X late Tuesday.

Palm Springs broke several records Tuesday, with its high of 117 degrees setting not only a daily high for Oct. 1, but also marking the city’s highest temperature ever recorded for the entire month, according to the National Weather Service. The city also set a record minimum temperature for Oct. 1, not dropping below 82 degrees, even at night.

Phoenix, which has been sweltering under a much longer heat wave, also set record high for any October day, hitting 113 Tuesday.

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In the Central Valley, some daily records were set Tuesday, but highs Wednesday and Thursday “will be approaching all time October highs,” the National Weather Service said.

These dangerously hot temperatures have increased concerns about fire starts, as well as health concerns.

“There is a high risk for dangerous heat illness for anyone, especially for the very young, the very old, those without air conditioning, and those active outdoors,” the National Weather Service wrote in its heat advisory for parts of Los Angeles area. “Overnight low temperatures will offer little reprieve from the heat.”

Here is a list of locations that set the highest Oct. 1 temperatures on record across California:

• Woodland Hills: hit 113 Tuesday, breaking the prior record of 110.
• Lancaster: hit 103 Tuesday, breaking the prior record of 100.
• Palmdale: hit 104 Tuesday, breaking the prior record of 100.
• Sandberg: hit 95 Tuesday, breaking the prior record of 92.
• Paso Robles: hit 107 Tuesday, breaking the prior record of 106.
• San Jacinto: hit 106 degrees Tuesday, breaking the prior record of 105.
• Idyllwild: hit 98 Tuesday, breaking the prior record of 93.
• Indio: hit 117 Tuesday, breaking the prior record of 111.
• Lake Cuyamaca: hit 94 Tuesday, breaking the prior record of 89.
• San Rafael: hit 105 Tuesday, breaking the prior record of 104.
• San Jose: hit 100 Tuesday, breaking the prior record of 97.
• Kentfield: hit 100 Tuesday, breaking the prior record of 97.
• Madera: hit 100 Tuesday, breaking the prior record of 99.
• Hanford: hit 100 Tuesday, breaking the prior record of 98.