Alright, Los Angeles. If you're looking to hit the trails today, you're either a glutton for punishment or haven't checked the damn forecast. Stay inside.
- Melting Point Temps: Don't let the early morning marine layer fool you; we're staring down the barrel of an Extreme Heat Warning across pretty much the entire county from today through Friday. Inland valleys are hitting 100-110°F, and even the "cool" beach areas are going to bake in the high 80s to low 90s. Your 16.5°C (62°F) dream temperature might be what some system spat out, but it's pure fantasy when the National Weather Service is telling everyone to brace for "dangerously hot weather."
- Ozone is Your Enemy: That lovely heat wave is cooking up a multi-day high ozone (smog) event. The AQI might look "Good" in some generic readout, but the South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued an Ozone Advisory for parts of LA County, with air quality reaching "Unhealthy" or "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" in the Santa Clarita, San Fernando, and San Gabriel Valleys. If you're feeling symptoms like difficulty breathing or throat irritation, it's the smog, not your imagination.
- Trails Are Closed (for a reason): Several local spots are shutting down to protect you from yourself. Burbank hiking trails, including Stough Canyon and Wildwood Canyon, are explicitly closed through August 28th due to this excessive heat. And if you were planning to wander into Eaton Canyon, those trails are still closed from that January 2025 wildfire damage, likely until well into 2027. Don't be that person who ignores the signs and needs rescuing.
Extreme Heat Warning - All Week!
Seriously, folks, this isn't a drill. The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Heat Warning for Los Angeles County. This means a "high risk of heat-related illness for everyone." Stay hydrated, stay indoors, and for the love of all that is holy, do not leave kids or pets in a parked car. Ever. If you absolutely must be outside, keep it short, stick to the earliest hours, and find some shade. Your body will thank you, and so will the ER staff.
Ozone Advisory in Effect
Even if the air looks clear, ozone pollution is a real issue, especially with this heat. Sensitive groups, which include anyone with respiratory or heart conditions (and let's be honest, probably a lot of us after years of breathing LA air), should limit outdoor activities. Check your local AQI before you head out, and if it's looking "Unhealthy," reconsider that run or ride.
Construction & Fire Danger
While not directly impacting your run in Griffith Park today, there's ongoing construction for the Spring/Alameda Bikeway Project downtown. If you're biking that way, expect detours and keep your head on a swivel. Also, the Angeles National Forest is at an "Extreme" fire danger level, so avoid anything that could spark a blaze out there. We've got enough on our plate with the heat, let's not add more smoke to the mix.
Data grounded with CBS News, MyNewsLA.com, LAist, Caltrans, and Cal OES from August 24-25, 2026.