Hot weather brings advisory for much of Ventura County

The season's first Santa Ana event has brought higher than normal temperatures to Ventura County along with a heat advisory through 7 p.m. Friday.

The National Weather Service issued the advisory Thursday for most of the county's populated areas, including the coast, said Rose Schoenfeld, a meteorologist with the weather service office in Oxnard. Mountain areas are excluded.

A heat advisory means hot temperatures could impact all people, not just those sensitive to heat, Schoenfeld said. An advisory is less severe than an excessive heat warning.

Temperatures Thursday and Friday are about 5 to 15 degrees above normal for most of Ventura County, including coastal areas, Schoenfeld said.

Along the coast, temperatures will peak in the mornings before winds shift onshore, bringing ocean breezes inland.

In Camarillo Thursday, the high of 98 degrees was a single degree short of a record for the day, the weather service noted. A record high for the date was set in San Luis Obispo, which reached 101 degrees, breaking the prior high of 99 degrees.

Officials said residents should avoid outdoor activity during the hottest part of the day. Shopping malls, library branches, movie theaters and community centers provide options to cool down, Ventura County's Office of Emergency Services said.

Temperatures may dip slightly Saturday before gradually cooling down into Monday. Tuesday is expected to be cooler than normal, Schoenfeld said.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Heat advisory for Ventura County arrives with Santa Ana event