Southern California should prepare for "dangerously hot" temperatures through Saturday, but elevated heat will persist into early next week.

The peak of the heat wave is expected Thursday and Friday, the National Weather Service said. While it’s brought warmer temperatures than in recent weeks, it is not particularly extreme in terms of all-time Southern California highs. “This is definitely more normal heat for this time of year,” Sam Zuber, an NWS meteorologist said.

P arts of the Bay Area were baking under triple-digit heat on Thursday, with at least seven cities notching new daily records, the National Weather Service said.