By Jason KUROSU

Fall greeted Californians with a sweltering heat wave and temperatures hitting up to triple digits in some parts of the southland.

The heat, coupled with Santa Ana winds gusting from 20-30 mph, prompted the National Weather Service to issue “red flag warnings” Monday morning in several areas including Los Angeles and Ventura County. The warnings indicate conditions conducive to wildfires and other hazards typical of dry, low-humidity weather. A brushfire broke out in Banning on Saturday, but was reported as mostly contained by Sunday night. No other wildfires have been reported. The red flag warning was in effect until Tuesday night at 6 p.m. when temperatures were expected to drop.

When asked whether there was anything particularly extreme or out of the norm concerning the recent heat wave, weather specialist Bonnie Bartling of the National Weather Service said, “We’re not exactly breaking records, but we are entering Santa Ana season.”

However, a few records were met and/or broken throughout Southern California, including Burbank tying a high of 102 degrees Tuesday, Oxnard setting a new record of 90 degrees and Lancaster setting a new record of 101 degrees, breaking the old record of 99 degrees dating back to 1952.

Whether the Santa Ana winds will propel the southland into another heat wave remains to be seen. National Weather Service Meterologist David Sweet did offer a positive forecast for the upcoming week though.

“We’re going to see a significant change in the coming week, bringing in cooler temperatures,” said Sweet. “We’re going to see a significant cooling trend.”

  Jason Kurosu