official (National Weather Service active alerts, api.weather.gov, pulled 4 Oct 2026 11:05 AM PDT · NWS Las Vegas, Los Angeles/Oxnard, San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Hanford, Eureka)
October heat grips California: Death Valley near 110 with lows near 85, Southern California under Extreme Heat Warnings
CLIMATE // CALIFORNIA
110°F
expected near Death Valley, under an Extreme Heat Warning until 8 PM PDT Oct 9 (NWS Las Vegas)
It is October and California is under heat warnings from the desert to the beach, with Death Valley expected near 110 degrees and nights that barely drop below 85.
Key facts
- Death Valley (NWS Las Vegas)
- Extreme Heat Warning, elevations below 2,000 ft · highs near 110°F, overnight lows only around 85°F, at least major heat risk · 11 AM Oct 4 to 8 PM PDT Fri Oct 9 (11 PM EDT)
- LA and Ventura (NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard)
- Extreme Heat Warning for the coast and valleys, including downtown Los Angeles · 90 to 100°F at the coast, 106°F in the valleys · until 8 PM PDT Thu Oct 8 (11 PM EDT)
- Santa Barbara County (NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard)
- Extreme Heat Warning · up to 85°F at the coast and 100°F in the mountains and Cuyama Valley · until 8 PM PDT Oct 8 · NWS says very hot weather is likely into the second week of October, possibly requiring an extension
- San Diego, Orange, Inland Empire (NWS San Diego)
- Extreme Heat Warnings for coastal areas, inland valleys, Inland Empire, Orange County and the Santa Ana Mountains · inland highs upper 90s to 103°F, lows mostly in the 70s · until 8 PM PDT Oct 8
- Advisories (NWS)
- Heat Advisories from NWS San Francisco, Sacramento, Hanford, Eureka and Los Angeles/Oxnard cover the Bay Area, Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys, Central Coast and southern Mendocino and Lake counties, with highs up to 104°F in the San Joaquin Valley
- Health (NWS)
- "Heat related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat events."
Dangerously hot conditions with high temperatures near 110 degrees and overnight lows only getting down to around 85 degrees.
NWS Las Vegas, Extreme Heat Warning for Death Valley National Park, 4 Oct 2026
Note
California is starting October with summer-grade heat. In active alerts pulled from the National Weather Service at 11:05 AM PDT on Oct 4, Extreme Heat Warnings stretch from Death Valley to the San Diego coast, with Heat Advisories across the Bay Area and the Central Valley.
The hottest spot is Death Valley National Park. NWS Las Vegas, which covers the park, warns of highs near 110°F and overnight lows only around 85°F at elevations below 2,000 feet, which it rates as at least major heat risk. The warning runs from 11 AM Oct 4 to 8 PM PDT on Friday, Oct 9, which is 11 PM EDT.
Closer to where most Californians live, NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard has an Extreme Heat Warning for the coast and valleys of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, including downtown Los Angeles, with 90 to 100°F at the coast and 106°F in the valleys, and another for Santa Barbara County. NWS San Diego has warnings for San Diego County's coast and inland valleys, Orange County, the Inland Empire and the Santa Ana Mountains, with inland highs up to 103°F and nights mostly in the 70s. All of those run until 8 PM PDT on Thursday, Oct 8. The Los Angeles office says very hot weather is likely to continue into the second week of October and may need an extension.
Farther north, NWS offices in San Francisco, Sacramento, Hanford and Eureka have Heat Advisories, with highs up to 104°F in the southern San Joaquin Valley. Each Extreme Heat Warning carries the same line: heat related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat events.
Why it matters
Heat this strong in October catches people out: schools, outdoor workers and homes without air conditioning are set up for autumn, not for 100-degree days. The warm nights matter as much as the highs: NWS warns that mild overnight temperatures limit relief, and in Death Valley the low is forecast around 85. Warnings run through Thursday on the coast and Friday in Death Valley, and NWS says they may be extended.
Sources
- National Weather Service: active alerts for California (api.weather.gov)
- NWS Las Vegas: Extreme Heat Warning, Death Valley National Park, until 8 PM PDT Oct 9
- NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard: Extreme Heat Warning, LA and Ventura coast and valleys, until 8 PM PDT Oct 8
- NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard: Extreme Heat Warning, Santa Barbara County coast, mountains and Cuyama Valley, until 8 PM PDT Oct 8
- NWS San Diego: Extreme Heat Warning, San Diego County Coastal Areas, until 8 PM PDT Oct 8
- NWS San Diego: Extreme Heat Warning, Inland Empire, until 8 PM PDT Oct 8
- NWS San Diego: Extreme Heat Warning, San Diego County Inland Valleys, until 8 PM PDT Oct 8
- Hero data: NWS Las Vegas
Primary + secondary attribution as listed.
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