Heat to Stay; Smog to Add to Discomfort

A day after San Francisco suffered its hottest day ever, the Los Angeles metropolitan area got the word that temperatures are expected to remain in the 80s and 90s--and above the 100-degree mark in inland areas. But compared to Northern California, there is a major difference: Smog is compounding the uncomfortable conditions.

A weekend heat wave extended from Los Angeles to San Francisco, where the 103-degree temperature set an all-time record Sunday. Traffic jams were triggered on arteries leading to beaches from the Bay Area to the Southland.

In the San Joaquin Valley, the temperature Sunday reached a sizzling 108 degrees in Fresno, but this was a full 6 degrees below the record set in 1925.

A high-pressure system in Southern California will continue to trap warm air, gases, dust and other pollutants near the ground while the temperature and humidity remain high. Beaches will offer some respite with temperatures in the 70s.

Dave Beusterien, a meteorologist with WeatherData, which provides forecasts for The Times, succinctly summed up the grim outlook: “Little change. California will continue to bake.”