This week is likely to bring the hottest temperatures to the Bay Area since September 2022. A ridge of high pressure over the West Coast has prompted the National Weather Service to call for excessive heat warnings until next Tuesday, with temperatures expected to exceed 100 in parts of the South Bay, East Bay and North Bay.
Below are some key charts that help put it into perspective:
1) Triple digit heat will be common across the East Bay and North Bay on Wednesday
The National Weather Service is forecasting temperatures well over 100 degrees for the East Bay and North Bay on Wednesday July 3, 2024 (Image: National Weather Service)
2) The National Weather Service has issued excessive heat warnings and advisories for the whole week
The National Weather Service declared an excessive heat warning and heat advisory for nearly all of the Greater Bay Area on Tuesday July 2, 2024, lasting through the weekend. (Image: National Weather Service)
3) The heat is increasing fire risk. Red flag warnings are in effect for the Santa Cruz Mountains, East Bay and North Bay through Wednesday night
The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for high fire risk through Wednesday July 3, 2024. (Image: National Weather Service)
4) The heat wave is likely to continue across California and the West for more than a week
The National and Oceanic Administration’s 8-14 day outlook shows the heat wave likely to continue from July 9 to July 15, 2024. (Image: NOAA)
5) PG&E’s public safety power shutoffs are affecting the Sacramento Valley, not Bay Area counties. To see a detailed map, go to https://pgealerts.alerts.pge.com/outage-tools/outage-map/
PG&E on Tuesday July2, 2024 issued public safety power shutoffs to reduce fire risk in the Sacramento Valley, but not in the Bay Area. (Image: PG&E)
6) Public agencies are warning people to be alert for signs of heat stroke
Public agencies, including the CDC, urged the public on Tuesday July 2, 2024 to be alert for signs of heat stroke. (Image: CDC, NOAA, NIOSH)
7) The good news is that due to two wet winters, California is not in a drought
The U.S. Drought Monitor, a weekly federal report, showed on June 27, 2024 that none of California is in a drought. (Image: U.S. Drought Monitor)
8) Most parts of California received 100% or more of their historic annual rainfall over the past 12 months, meaning moisture levels in trees and shrubs are still relatively high.
National Weather Service totals show that most Bay Area cities received 100% or more of their historical rainfall averages over the 12 months ending June 30, 2024. (Image: National Weather Service)
9) As a result of the rain and two years of above-average Sierra snowpack, most large reservoirs in California are full or near full, meaning most residents won’t face water shortages this summer.
As a result of two wetter-than-normal winters in a row, most large California reservoirs were full or near full on July 2, 2024. (Image: California Department of Water Resources)
10) The heat wave is expected to continue at least through Sunday.
A heat wave gripping the Bay Area is expected to continue at least through Sunday July 8, 2024, the National Weather Service predicted on Tuesday July 2, 2024. (Image: National Weather Service)
Tips to beat the heat and prepare for power outages and wildfires
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