Residents of Beverly Hills, Bel Air, and Holmby Hills woke Sunday, July 5, to hazy skies and an air quality warning after Fourth of July fireworks blanketed Southern California in smoke — and forecasters say a building heat wave will make conditions worse before they improve.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a hazardous air quality alert Saturday evening, July 4, that remained in effect until 3 p.m. Sunday for central and southern Los Angeles County. The high-pressure system driving this week's warming trend is also trapping particulate matter near the ground, preventing the usual ocean breeze from clearing the air.
"If there's a layer where there's smoggy or particle stuff, then it's suppressed closer to the ground, so that makes the situation worse," National Weather Service meteorologist Carol Ciliberti said Sunday.
The problem is compounded by lingering soot from a late June warehouse fire in Boyle Heights that released pollution across L.A. County rivaling wildfire-level readings, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Heat climbing through midweek
The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for Los Angeles County beginning Tuesday, July 7, through Thursday, July 9. Rose Schoenfeld, meteorologist with the NWS office in Oxnard, said temperatures will run five to 10 degrees above normal, driven by a high-pressure ridge building over the region.
For the L.A. Basin, including Beverly Hills, highs are forecast to reach about 84 degrees Sunday before climbing into the mid-80s by Wednesday, July 8, and Thursday, July 9, according to KTLA meteorologist Kirk Hawkins. The nearby San Fernando Valley faces 94 degrees Monday, 97 Tuesday, and 100 Wednesday.
Breezy afternoon and evening winds with gusts of 30 to 40 mph are expected across mountain and canyon areas, raising fire-weather concerns for elevated terrain near Bel Air and Holmby Hills. Cal Fire's expanded Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps, released in April 2025, placed portions of Beverly Hills in the "Very High" category, according to a city press release at the time.
Second heat wave forecast for following weekend
Schoenfeld warned that even after temperatures ease Friday, a more intense heat wave is forecast to redevelop across much of the West starting around the weekend of July 12–13.
"It doesn't seem like we're out of the woods, even if temperatures start to drop after Thursday," Schoenfeld said.
What residents should do
L.A. County Public Health recommends keeping doors and windows closed while air quality is poor. Whole-house fans and swamp coolers can pull pollutants inside; air purifiers or air conditioners are safer alternatives. Fireworks-related pollution can trigger coughs, asthma flares, and heart attacks, the department warns.
As temperatures climb, residents should stay hydrated, avoid strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest hours, never leave children or pets in parked vehicles, and check on older neighbors. Children, older adults, and pets are most vulnerable to both smoke and heat. Residents seeking cooling resources can call 211 or visit beverlyhills.org for updates.
Upcoming community dates
- Tuesday, July 7 – Thursday, July 9: NWS heat advisory in effect for L.A. County valleys and mountains
- Weekend of July 12–13: Potentially more intense heat wave forecast to begin across the region
