Temperatures climbed upward Wednesday to mark the beginning of what forecasters are calling the most significant heat wave of the summer settled over the region, promising blistering weather that will raise the danger of wildfires and heat-related illnesses through the weekend.

National Weather Service forecasters said temperatures in most areas on Wednesday were 3 to 6 degrees higher than they were on Tuesday.

“Looking for another 3-6 degrees of warming Thursday before temperatures level off Friday then start a very slow cooling trend Saturday,” according to the NWS. “During the hottest days Thursday/Friday highs will easily reach triple digits across the valleys and deserts, possibly breaking some daily records in the process. Closer to the coast temperatures will be cooler but still 5

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