Southern California Gets Relief From Heat

Southern California’s valleys and deserts have finally gotten relief with the collapse of a heat wave that departed with a final round of blistering temperatures, thunderstorms and flash floods.

Temperatures Friday are down markedly across the region as high pressure recedes, and many beaches are foggy as the Pacific Ocean marine layer pushes back in over the coast.

In the Coachella Valley, temperatures over the weekend were forecast to be in the 90s.

Traffic is again moving on U.S. 395 in Owens Valley about 130 miles north of Los Angeles where a downpour Thursday unleashed a flash flood that buried the highway under several feet of mud as it swept a big rig away.

The California Highway Patrol is escorting southbound traffic through the area and only one northbound lane is open.