Inland temperatures will climb toward triple digits starting Tuesday, July 7, and gusty winds are raising fire concerns across the region, according to the National Weather Service and local meteorologists.

The NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard office issued a heat advisory running from 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 7, through 8 p.m. Thursday, July 9. The advisory covers interior mountains of Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties, along with the San Fernando, San Gabriel, and Santa Clarita valleys. Temperatures of 90 to 100 degrees are expected in the advisory zone, with portions of the Antelope Valley potentially hitting 104°F.

Santa Monica itself is not under the advisory. The city's coastal location typically keeps highs 10 to 15°F cooler than areas just five miles inland, and the NWS forecast discussion noted that weak onshore flow will continue pushing some morning low clouds to the coast. But residents who commute inland, exercise outdoors, or have family in the valleys should take the warning seriously.

"We also have some fire concerns as we're going to get some gusty winds going," KTLA meteorologist Henry DiCarlo said Monday, July 6.

DiCarlo called it "a tough week" and said inland valleys would make a run toward 100 degrees through the rest of the week. No formal Red Flag Warning has been issued for the Santa Monica area, but gusty winds tied to the same high-pressure system are raising general fire concerns across the region.

The NWS warned of a high risk for heat illness among sensitive populations, including the very young, the elderly, those without air conditioning, and anyone active outdoors. The hottest afternoons are expected Wednesday, July 8, and Thursday, July 9.

Rose Schoenfeld, a meteorologist with the NWS in Oxnard, said temperatures will run 5 to 10 degrees above normal for this time of year. She cautioned that even after the advisory expires Thursday evening, the heat won't fully break. A second heat wave could redevelop across the West by the following weekend, Schoenfeld told the Los Angeles Times.

The high-pressure system is also affecting air quality. NWS meteorologist Carol Ciliberti said Sunday, July 5, that the system is pushing particulate matter closer to the ground, and weaker-than-normal onshore winds mean pollution isn't dispersing as it normally would along the coast.

How to stay safe:

• Drink plenty of fluids and stay in air-conditioned spaces when possible.
• Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing.
• Limit strenuous outdoor activity to early morning or evening.
• Never leave pets or children in a parked car.
• Check on elderly neighbors and relatives.

The City of Santa Monica has not announced cooling center locations for this heat event. Residents can call 311 or visit smgov.net for updates on local emergency resources. To report a fire or medical emergency, call 911.