Los Angeles is running warm and dry today, Wednesday, July 8, with sunny skies and a high near 89°F downtown and across the valleys, so front-load your outdoor plans into the morning before the afternoon heat peaks.
Today’s Setup
The National Weather Service says a strong upper-level ridge is parked over Southern California through Friday, squashing the marine layer down to about 800 feet. That means little to no morning cloud cover south of Point Conception and only weak onshore flow in the afternoons — the setup that’s pushing highs 3 to 6 degrees, locally 8, above normal. Tonight stays mild with a partly cloudy low around 64°F and almost no wind.
Best Window To Be Outside
Morning is your friend this week. Get hikes at Griffith Park or Runyon Canyon done before 10 a.m., and hit the sand at Santa Monica or Venice early too — the weak sea breeze won’t cool things off as much as usual. Inland spots like the Valley will feel the heat more than the coast.
Heat Building Into Thursday
Thursday brings more of the same: sunny with a high near 91°F and little change from today, per the forecast discussion. The Los Angeles Dodgers host the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on July 9, so if you’re headed to Chavez Ravine, expect a hot afternoon into a warm evening — hydrate before first pitch and dress light. Grab a Los Angeles Dodgers jersey or Los Angeles Dodgers fitted cap to rep the team, and check Get tickets on SeatGeek or Find tickets on StubHub if you still need seats. Friday should bring a couple degrees of relief as onshore flow ticks up.
What To Wear Or Bring
Sunscreen, a hat, and hydration are non-negotiable through Friday. An insulated water jug 1 gallon is a smart grab for the trail or the ballpark, and a beach towel oversized covers you for a coastal cool-down. Kids melting down in the backyard? A kiddie splash pad is an easy fix, or check out the 2-Person Intex Floating Lounge with Cooler on Amazon for lazy pool afternoons.
Tonight’s Games & Shows
It’s also bobblehead night at Dodger Stadium (the Shohei Ohtani “Greatest Game” giveaway, part 2) as the Dodgers host Colorado tonight, July 8. Across town, Hilary Duff plays Kia Forum tonight — grab a Hilary Duff t-shirt if you’re going — and The Phantom of the Opera continues its run at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre. Later this week: the World Cup Quarterfinals featuring Spain vs. Belgium hits SoFi Stadium July 10, the 5 Seconds of Summer tour stops at Kia Forum July 11, and Belicofest takes over BMO Stadium July 12.
Dinner Tonight
With temps staying warm into the evening, something easy and light — pasta or a quick stir-fry — beats standing over a hot stove for hours. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything for tonight’s dinner delivered to your door, including Amazon Fresh groceries for the basics.
Next Few Days
Expect more sun and above-normal warmth Thursday (near 91°F), with Friday bringing modest cooling of 3 to 5 degrees as onshore flow strengthens, according to the forecast discussion. The bigger story: forecasters say the ridge may break down this weekend, opening the door to possible monsoon showers or thunderstorms and real relief from the heat. For more outdoor gear ideas while the sun sticks around, browse our outdoor gear deals.
