The Bay Area is preparing a three-day heatwave that will escalate temperatures to near 100 degrees in several areas. Because of this, the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued heat advisories excessive heat warnings up until Wednesday.
Guidance on Heat Advisories and Warnings
The forecasting team expects the immense heat to affect inland communities in East Bay and South Bay the most. Regardless, afternoon temperatures in North Bay and on the Peninsula will surpass average levels. There will be a heat advisory from 11 a.m. Monday to 11 p.m. Wednesday for interior North Bay, South Bay, and Santa Cruz Mountains. Also, an excessive heat warning has been issued for the East Bay hills and valleys, eastern Santa Clara Hills, and Santa Lucia Mountains where nights are predicted to be unusually warm.
“Communities within the advisory area should anticipate above average temperatures causing moderate-to-major Heat Risk,” warns NWS Bay Area on Monday. “Locations under an excessive heath warning should expect similar or slightly hotter daytime highs with difficulties cooling down below 70-75 degrees during nights.”
Regions Expected to Be Hottest
Predictions show that Concord, Livermore, and Cloverdale could face extreme temperatures as high as or exceeding 100 degrees that barely drop below 70 degrees during nights. San Jose, Santa Rosa, and Napa could also see high temperature spikes.
Potential Dry Thunderstorms Risk
NWS is tracking possible appearances of dry thunderstorms which could notably raise fire risks towards this week’s heatwave end. “There is also minimal chances of dry thunderstorms late Tuesday into Wednesday across most of this region,” forecasters have stated. “Southward-moving monsoonal moisture will bring some instability. However, there are certain barriers, hence we’re keeping the chances ‘minimal, but existent’ for now.”
Heat Relief Incoming
There’s slight hope in the forecasts as temperature drops are expected from Thursday onwards. This brings a considerably cooler period going into the weekend with temperatures predicted to dip under average levels by Saturday.
Possible Effects of Monsoonal Moisture
A high-pressure system over the Great Basin is expected to tug monsoon moisture in California’s direction on Tuesday evening. This increases possibilities of thunderstorms in Sierra Nevada. Such moisture can potentially lead to medium and high-level clouds along California’s coastline and can make Tuesday’s sunset as well as Wednesday’s sunrise appear exceptionally bright.
Continuous Heat and Possible Thunderstorms
The persistent heat continues to pound California due to a strong high-pressure system gaining strength across southwest U.S. Bay Area, Central Valley, Inland Empire, and Mojave Desert are all under excessive heat warnings and advisories with soaring near 100 or above temperatures predicted for several more days.
A surge in monsoon moisture is likely to increase humidity levels around San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, and parts of Central Coast. Although Bay Area and Central Valley might not see that unusual humidity levels, upper atmospheric moisture could intensify Earth’s greenhouse effect and thereby keep night-time temperatures elevated. another silent yet dangerous sign of a heatwave.
Forecast Breakdown
- Coastline, the coast tends to stay cool thanks to a dense marine layer with possible fog occurrences especially along south facing shores like Santa Cruz where high temperatures will be around late 60s early 70s range. San Francisco will experience its warmest day of this week with downtown temperatures varying between low to mid 70s and beach areas hovering between low to mid 60s.
- Bay Shoreline, here, temperature peaks are expected with a feeble sea breeze complimented by the strong high-pressure system. Oakland and Berkeley might see temperatures within upper 70s to early 80s whereas Hayward, Fremont, and Redwood City will face highs within late 80s early 90s range making for about a 10 degree increase from normal levels.
- Inland, In North Bay and South Bay this could be the hottest day of the week. High temperatures in Wine Country area are projected to be within early to mid 90 degrees range. Territory beyond the northern part of Napa Valley along with eastern Solano County can even soar beyond 100 degrees. San Jose will also likely experience severe heat well past the 90s, while Santa Cruz Mountains reaches towards high 80s or early 90s.
Protective Measures Instructions
Residents residing in these regions having extreme heat forecasts should take care by,
- Drinking lots of fluids
- Remaining in rooms that have air conditioning
- Avoiding direct exposure to sunlit areas
- Ensuring safety checks on family members and neighbors
- Making sure children or pets are not left unattended inside vehicles
Closing Notes on Extreme Heat event
The upcoming Bay Area heatwave will challenge residents’ survival capacity as much as it does the infrastructures. With sky-high temperatures lurking combined with dry thunderstorm risks, staying updated and planned is key. The predicted cooling period later this week provides some positive anticipation but until then ensuring cool hydration is imperative.
