Los Angeles, May 8, 2026, 11:06 (PDT)
Federal forecasters ramped up heat warnings across California’s deserts on Friday, bracing for an early heat wave that could drive temperatures as high as 104 to 112 degrees Fahrenheit from Sunday, May 10, through Monday, May 11. The warnings extend to the Coachella Valley, the deserts of San Diego County, the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning, western Imperial County, and the Salton Sea.
Timing isn’t cooperating. The heat is set to hit right over Mother’s Day weekend—well before most folks have eased into summer routines. Fresno, for one, might clock 102 degrees on Monday, which would be its earliest on record. “People won’t be as used to it,” National Weather Service meteorologist Brian Ochs told the Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times
San Joaquin Valley faces an 85% to 95% probability of temperatures reaching the triple digits on Monday and Tuesday, according to the weather service. Forecasters assigned a moderate HeatRisk rating—meaning heat-related health issues are likely—with some valley spots at medium risk for even higher health impacts. Wildfire risk is also elevated, thanks to hot, dry, and breezy conditions in the Kern County desert and on the Mojave Desert slopes.
Heat will hit Southern California unevenly, according to the Los Angeles/Oxnard forecast office. Some of the warmest coastal valleys could be pushing into the mid-90s by Sunday, then climbing into the upper 90s on Monday. Downtown Los Angeles plus other inland coastal spots are headed for the 80s to mid-90s. Beaches, though, look to hold steady in the mid-70s—thanks to the marine layer and its persistent low clouds keeping shoreline temps in check.
The Weather Company expects a surge of heat across the broader West for Mother’s Day weekend, as a ridge of high pressure sets in. That ridge—a dome of sinking air, known for clearing skies and sending ground temps higher—could push dozens of records within reach on Monday and Tuesday, forecasters said.
It’s not just California feeling the heat. The National Weather Service in Phoenix put out an extreme heat warning for the Phoenix metro and areas of western Imperial County. Forecasters are calling for highs of 104 to 110 degrees across the lower deserts, with Monday shaping up to be the week’s peak — both in temperature and disruption.
Up in the Bay Area, it’s a tale of two climates. The San Francisco forecast office predicts interior valleys could crack the 90-degree mark by Monday. Near the coast? Temperatures hang back in the 60s and 70s. Early next week, heat-related illness becomes a moderate concern for sensitive groups farther inland.
The outlook isn’t set in stone across the board. According to the San Diego forecast office, there’s better confidence in predictions for the mountains and deserts, but west of the mountains, things get tricky—subtle changes in the marine layer or onshore flow could leave some spots cooler than expected. Models also suggest temperatures may dip late next week, but dry conditions should hang on.
This pattern could stick around after the weekend. The Climate Prediction Center is calling for above-normal temperatures in both Northern and Southern California from May 13-17, with the May 15-21 outlook also putting both regions in the warmer-than-average camp.
Heat is arriving while the rest of the country bakes. On Friday, NOAA reported April ranked as the third-warmest April ever recorded across the lower 48 states. The agency also noted January through April set a 132-year record for warmth. California, for its part, logged both its hottest and driest March to date.
