California baked in a summerlike heat wave Thursday as a strong ridge of high pressure continued to build across the West.

Record highs were recorded in many areas, with gusty Santa Ana winds thrown into the mix in Southern California.

The National Weather Service reported that Long Beach, which hit 100 degrees, shattered its record for the day, last set in 1989 at 93 degrees. Temperature records for Long Beach date back to 1958.

Heat records were also broken in Camarillo, Oxnard, Santa Barbara and at the Los Angeles International Airport.

The conditions elevated fire danger, but red flag warnings were not issued because vegetation remains relatively green. Firefighters and helicopters quickly extinguished brush fire Wednesday in Los Angeles County.

The heat was predicted to persist through Friday before dramatic cooling during the weekend brings a chance of precipitation early next week, including mountain snow showers.

The spring heat wave follows an exceptionally dry winter that leaves California to face another year of drought and tightening water supplies.

The Sierra Nevada snowpack, a key part of the water supply, is just 30% of the April 1 average, the date when it historically is at its peak, according to the California Department of Water Resources.

The Sacramento weather office said the outlook for mid-April and beyond favors a continued warmer-than-normal temperature pattern.