Updated July 13, 10:41 a.m.
Sacramento is in for an unusually hot weekend, with temperatures predicted to peak in the triple digits. Officials with the Sacramento branch of the National Weather Service said temperatures will likely break 100 degrees Fahrenheit on Friday and ramp up on Saturday and Sunday.
Kate Forrest, a meteorologist with the station in Sacramento, said the northern part of the Sacramento Valley will likely see temperatures at or exceeding 110 degrees this weekend. That probability is slightly lower for the Sacramento metropolitan area, with about a 50% chance of seeing temperatures that high. Temperatures should settle slightly after that, she said.
“We're still going to see triple digits on Monday, but things will be less intense than they will over the weekend,” said Forrest.
Excessive heat warning for Sacramento Valley as record temperatures expected
The Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for areas below 4,500 feet elevation — which includes the majority of the Sacramento Valley — between 11 a.m. Saturday and 11 p.m. Sunday, warning of “very high risk of heat stress or illnesses for [the] entire population.”
It’s unusual for the Sacramento area to see temperatures surpassing 100 degrees in July. According to the weather service, the average maximum temperature for this month is about 92 degrees.
Chelsea Peters, the lead meteorologist for the weather service in Sacramento, said the area might see record-breaking temperatures this weekend as a result. The weather service in Sacramento has two climate sites where it issues record temperature statements, one in the City of Sacramento and another at the Sacramento Executive Airport.
“Both these locations have the potential to tie or break the current daily high temperature and warm low-temperature records for the two hottest days we're forecasting — Saturday and Sunday, July 15 and 16,” Peters said in an email to CapRadio.
Cooling centers open in Sacramento region
Forrest said it’s important for locals to stay hydrated and limit outdoor activity however possible. She added that if people need to be outside, it’s safest during the coolest part of the day — which, in this case, will be from 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. The hottest part of the days this weekend will likely stretch from 10 a.m. to as late as 9 p.m.
“Even after the sun sets, we're still expecting elevated overnight lows,” said Forrest. “There may not be significant cooling overnight that brings any relief from these really hot temperatures during the day.”
Officials with the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health warned that this period of heat could pose additional dangers for outdoor workers and those in indoor spaces with high heat, since those groups are at a higher risk for heat illness.
“Our team is out in full force right now conducting targeted inspections to ensure employers are complying with the law, with a focus on construction, agriculture, tree trimming, landscaping, car wash and warehouse industries,” Cal/OSHA Chief Jeff Killip said at a press conference on Wednesday.
Sacramento County will open some cooling center locations in response to the high daytime temperatures expected for the weekend. Anyone looking for respite from the heat is welcome, and pets must be on a leash or in a carrier at all times.
The following locations will be open on Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.:
- 1725 28th Street, Sacramento
- 5747 Watt Avenue, North Highlands
- 2450 Florin Road, Sacramento
The city of Sacramento will also open several cooling center locations between Friday and Sunday:
- Outreach and Engagement Center, 3615 Auburn Blvd
- 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., accepts pets
- Sam & Bonnie Pannell Community Center, 2450 Meadowview Rd
- Noon to 8 p.m., service animals allowed
- La Familia's Maple Neighborhood Center, 3301 37th Avenue
- 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., accepts pets
Sacramento County officials are updating this list with more cooling center locations in the region as they are made available. And for cooling centers outside of Sacramento, California officials are updating this list.
State launches heat safety resource, confident in electric grid
California also launched a $20 million campaign this week aimed at helping residents prepare for extreme heat. Called Heat Ready CA, the website offers a heat risk assessment tool and tips about heat safety
“I'm very mindful and sober about the health and safety of people and these extreme heat events and these triple digit [temperatures],” Governor Gavin Newsom told reporters on Wednesday. “This is becoming all too familiar in the state of California, and that's why we are stepping up our efforts as it relates to a real targeted focus on keeping people safe and educating people the importance of staying hydrated and staying cool.”
Newsom also mentioned that the state’s energy grid is expected to remain stable during this heatwave. Last summer, a series of 100 degree-plus days forced the state to issue 10 consecutive Flex Alerts to conserve the state’s energy supply. He called the energy outlook “green.”
Local rivers have also been running faster and colder this year due to excess snow melt. Forrest said river waters remain faster and colder during the heatwave, so she cautioned locals to stay aware of these more severe conditions and to use life jackets.
Finally, Forrest said high temperatures and dryness brought on by the heatwave are raising fire concerns between Friday and Sunday. She advised locals to obey burn bans and to limit use of equipment that can cause sparks.
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