Summer 2012 has been hot over the Plains and parts of the East but it has been cool compared to normal over Southern California and other parts of the West but in coming days it will be anything but cool. In fact, the hottest part of the nation over the next 5-7 days will be centred between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles.

A Four Corners high, which has been barely existant this year due to stronger heioghts further east, will build west over the next 5 days and this will force the shut down of the marine layer along the California coast as hot air from the deserts builds overhead and towards the Pacific. This hasn’t really happened this summer. With this setup, the normal onshore winds reverse and offshore easterlies kick in, so instead of cooling relief coming off the ocean, temperatures can heat up even at the beach with air blowing over top of the coastal range towards the Pacific from the hot interior. Highs should push 126 in Death Valley, 120 in Palm Springs and even 110 in the Inland Empire while highs in the LA Basin push well into the 90s with even Santa Monica pushing 90. Downtown Los Angeles may poush into the upper 90s while Pasadena reaches 105, Victorville 115.