A heat wave hitting the West, sending temperatures soaring past the century mark, is expected to persist into the weekend, with the most intense and prolonged heat expected in the Desert Southwest.

L.A. Unified School District officials say they'll take steps to protect students and staff from the soaring temperatures baking the Southland.

The event kicked off early Friday morning, and teams are already on the roads, traveling from Mount Hood all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Ahead of the relay, Dan Floyd, the chief operating officer of Hood to Coast, urged participants to prepare in advance for the heat wave that’s expected to start over the weekend.

A heat wave has settled into the Bay Area. Here are listed cooling centers in Santa Clara, Contra Costa and Santa Clara counties. Call the listed numbers to confirm they’re open. Free End Library, 1550 Oak St., 510-747-7740

The NWS issued an extreme heat warning for Portland with temperatures up to 103°F, advising caution against heat-related illnesses.

With the extreme heat came wildfires, insect outbreaks, and thawing permafrost. Now Kwon et al. suggest that the effects of the 2020 heat wave were still detectable the following year in the form of warmer- and wetter-than-usual soils.

The recent heat wave ranks among the most severe ever experienced in the south of France, rivaling the historic August 2003 event, according to French weather forecasting adminstration. It was also the second-longest recorded in August.

Storm Tracker 2 Meteorologist Dave Salesky will have the latest today at 4, 5, 6, and 11 p.m.