Overview
- Extreme Heat Warnings and Red Flag Warnings remained in force across much of Southern California and the Southwest through Friday evening, with inland highs reaching triple digits and desert readings as hot as 115°F. Maricopa County officials say this summer’s prolonged heat has produced a large toll, reporting 113 confirmed heat-related deaths for 2026 with hundreds more under review.
- Emergency agencies and utilities pre-positioned crews and warned of precautionary public-safety power shutoffs to reduce fire ignitions in areas under gusty, very dry conditions.
- Remnants of Tropical Storm Iselle pushed humidity and dewpoints unusually high, increasing thunderstorm and lightning risk that could spark new fires even as moisture helps weaken the heat dome.
- Forecasts from the National Weather Service show temperatures easing over the weekend as a trough shifts the ridge and brings higher storm chances, but meteorologists say the precise timing and local rainfall amounts remain uncertain.