Dangerously hot conditions hit states up and down the West Coast over the weekend, owing to a persistent heat wave stretching from the Pacific Northwest to California and the desert Southwest.

Residents of the Western U.S. sweltered in a heat wave Saturday that hospitalized some people, with temperatures forecast to hit dangerous levels throughout the weekend in Washington, Oregon, Southern California,

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 hotter 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.

Multiple small fires were reported in the Angeles National Forest on Saturday morning due to lightning strikes.