Finally! Break out the sunscreen and beach towels.

The first heat wave of summer is arriving in time for the weekend leading up to the Fourth of July, forecasters say, with the streak of June-gloom cloud coverage burning off and some of the hottest temperatures of the year for parts of Southern California.

A high-pressure system is expected to start building over the region on Friday, with mountain and valley communities to see some of the highest temperatures, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Lisa Phillips. On Saturday and Sunday, those temps should climb into the triple digits.

Along the coastline in Los Angeles and Orange counties, temperatures will only see a slight increase, rising into the mid-70s on Friday and the high 70s and low 80s on Saturday and Sunday before cooling slightly by Tuesday, July 4th.

In inland Los Angeles, cities including Woodlands Hills and Azusa will see jumps from the mid-70s from Thursday into the mid-80s by Friday and into the 90s by the weekend, Phillips said.

Similarly, inland Orange County cities like Anaheim and Fullerton should feel 10-degree increases by Friday, reaching into the mid to high 80s.

San Bernardino and Riverside counties will sizzle, with highs reaching into the mid-90s by Friday and high 90s and low 100s by the weekend, said NWS meteorologist Stefanie Sullivan. Mountain temperatures in Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead will stay more consistent, hanging in the mid-80s for most of the weekend.

The heat wave will continue across the region for the weekend before a slight cooling trend begins Monday night and continues through next week.

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