Updated Sept. 7
Sacramento set a new record for the highest temperature ever recorded downtown — 116 degrees — as an extreme heatwave continued into another week on Tuesday.
The mark breaks a record set July 17, 1925, when the high reached 114 degrees.
This is the seventh-consecutive day above 100 degrees in Sacramento as a dangerous heat wave has blanketed California and much of the west, straining the electric grid and putting many people at risk of heat-related injuries.
Sacramento wasn’t the only city who saw record-breaking heat on Tuesday — the National Weather Service said Reno, Modesto, Stockton and Redding set new daily highs for Sept. 6 as well.
"It's definitely very notable, especially seeing records like this in September," said Chris Hintz, a meteorologist with the weather service in Sacramento. "Typically we see them more in July and August so that makes it even more noteworthy."
The heatwave has been especially dangerous not just because of its length but because overnight lows have also remained above average. Monday night's low temperature in downtown Sacramento was 72 degrees, where normally this time of year the average low would be closer to 60 degrees.
UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain explained in a social media event why overnight temperatures have remained in the 70s in the Sacramento region and Sierra foothills.
“During these extreme heat events, at certain elevations, there’s almost no temperature recovery overnight, Swain said. "And that, obviously, has major implications for human health, ecosystems and, of course, wildfire risk because it means wildfires can burn as if it’s still daytime, straight through the night.”
Swain says temperatures rising at night are known as “inversion.” He adds this has been a signature of recent heat waves, especially in the fall, with lower elevations warming faster than other regions.
The heat wave is forecast to linger until the end of the week, with an Excessive Heat Warning in effect until Friday night.
Hintz with the weather service said relief is on the way, though.
"The high pressure's going to weaken and then we've got a trough of low pressure in the Pacific that is going to deepen and approach the West Coast by the end of the week and then the main effect for us will be an increase onshore flow and cooling over the area," he said.
Helen Barrington and Steve Milne contributed to this story.
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