A burst of sweltering-hot weather is expected to bake the Bay Area and Northern California early this week, sending temperatures into the triple digits in many inland cities and exacerbating fire conditions across the region.
The brunt of the mini heat wave is expected to hit on Tuesday and Wednesday as a massive ridge of high pressure builds over much of the American West. The swell of hot weather prompted meteorologists on Monday to warn of the potential for heat-related illnesses in the coming days, especially for residents of inland cities.
“It looks like it’s going to be pretty hot throughout interior Northern California for the workweek,” said Anna Wanless, a National Weather Service meteorologist. “It’s definitely going to dry things out.”
The weather was expected to degrade Bay Area air quality, leading air-quality regulators to issue a Spare the Air alert for Tuesday; an air quality advisory was already in effect due to wildfire smoke drifting over the region. Ground level ozone pollution was forecast to be unhealthy and residents were advised to avoid driving for the day. People with respiratory and heart conditions as well as seniors and young children were advised to stay inside.
Click here if you are having trouble viewing the slideshow on a mobile device.
The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory set to take effect Tuesday morning for almost the entire northern portion of the state between the Pacific Coast and the Sierra Nevada, said Sarah McCorkle, a National Weather Service meteorologist. That includes eastern Alameda and Santa Clara counties, Contra Costa and Solano counties and much of the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys.
Southern portions of the San Joaquin Valley also were placed under an excessive heat warning from 11 a.m. Tuesday to 11 p.m. Wednesday due to temperatures that could reach 108 degrees.
A Heat Advisory has been issued for inland portions of our area for Tuesday as high temperatures are forecast from the mid-90s to the low 100s.
Be sure to stay weather aware and hydrated.#CAwx pic.twitter.com/1dzfOhoo3E
— NWS Bay Area 🌉 (@NWSBayArea) August 15, 2022
While some areas could see some slight relief as soon as Wednesday, other areas will continue to remain hot throughout the week, the National Weather Service reported.
Brentwood and other parts of East Contra Costa County could see temperatures hit 103 degrees on Monday, followed by 108 degrees on Tuesday and 104 on Wednesday. Cities such as Livermore, Concord and Sacramento could see temperatures cross the triple-digit mark through at least the first half of the week.
Temperatures should moderate slightly closer to the coast. In San Jose, the high temperature is expected to be in the low-to-mid 90s early this week, while Oakland could see temperatures in the mid 80s over the next couple days. San Francisco is expected to remain in the high 70s through at least Tuesday.
“I’d really advise people to avoid outdoor activities, and if possible, seek air conditioning,” McCorkle said. “If you’re planning on doing outdoor activities, take breaks and make sure you’re staying hydrated.”
Hot temps on tap early this week, mainly for inland areas, peaking Tuesday before declining through the end of the week. Remember to stay well hydrated, take frequent breaks, bring pets indoors, and check on your vulnerable relatives and friends, esp those without a/c ! #CAwx pic.twitter.com/YGhyyoshqH
— NWS Bay Area 🌉 (@NWSBayArea) August 15, 2022
The rise in temperatures raised concerns about rising energy usage across the state. The California Independent System Operator, which oversees the state’s power grids, told utilities companies to defer scheduled maintenance through Thursday during the afternoon and evening hours to keep power capacity at its highest.
The scorching temperatures also could exacerbate fire conditions, said Capt. Chris Bruno, a Cal Fire spokesman. He urged people heading to the Sierra for relief from the heat to make sure their campfires were out and to keep any chains from dragging on roadways while towing campers and boats.
“If we have a fire incident start, that means we’re going to have a very receptive fuel bed,” Bruno said. “And the probability for fires to increase on a larger scale is going to be far more active than the April, May or June months.”
The heat comes as several fires continue to burn throughout Northern California — with one sending smoke wafting into the Bay Area. The air quality advisory issued Monday by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, was due to smoke from the Six Rivers Lightning Complex Fire in Humboldt and Trinity counties drifting high over the Bay Area.
The fires, which consist of about a dozen blazes burning in an around the community of Willow Creek, have burned 19,272 acres since igniting on Aug. 5. More than 2,000 firefighters are battling the fires, which are 17% contained, according to Cal Fire.
