Warm weather will affect much of California over the next few days, with temperatures possibly reaching triple digits in some areas.
For the first time this year, temperatures in the Central Valley may rise above 100 degrees. By Monday, temperatures in Fresno could reach 102 degrees — which would be the first year of the year that thermometers have hit that level since records were kept, according to Brian Oakes, meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Hanford.
Fresno hasn’t seen 102-degree heat so quickly since 2013, when it reached that mark on May 12.
Ochs warned about the heat: “people won’t be used to it” at this time of year and so may be more affected by high temperatures.
Forecasters warned of increased fire danger in Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties; The slopes of the Kern County Desert and Mojave Desert.
By Monday, Barstow could reach 102; Borrego Springs, 107; Palm Springs, 108; and Death Valley, 111. Afternoon temperatures in Imperial County can reach 112 degrees.
Possible maximum temperature on Monday.
(National Weather Service)
Meteorologists issued an “extreme heat watch” from Mother’s Day morning through Tuesday evening for Palm Springs and the rest of the Coachella Valley, the deserts of San Diego County and the San Gorgonio Pass.
An extreme heat watch was also issued for parts of Imperial County from Sunday morning through Monday night.
Along the California coast, this month is typically associated with “May gray”, persistent gray skies that keep temperatures relatively cool. But not this year.
In Los Angeles County, forecasters expect temperatures to reach the 80s for Mother’s Day weekend in Downtown LA, Pasadena and Simi Valley. On Sunday, the mercury in Southern California could reach 80 in Irvine, 83 in Downtown LA, 85 in Anaheim, 86 in Pasadena, 91 in Santa Clarita and Ontario, 92 in Riverside, 93 in Paso Robles, 94 in Lancaster, 96 in San Bernardino and 106 in Palm Springs.
And it could get even hotter by Monday, with temperatures in Anaheim reaching 81 degrees; Downtown LA and Anaheim, 86; Pasadena, 91; Ontario, 94; Santa Clarita and Riverside, 95; Lancaster, 97; San Bernardino, 99; and Palm Springs, 108.
The coldest areas in the region will be right near the coast, where a high temperature in San Clemente is expected to reach 73 on Monday; and San Diego and Ventura, 76.
It will be so hot this time of year that forecasters across the state are advising residents to take steps to avoid heat-related illnesses.
“Limit strenuous outdoor activities to early morning hours only,” the weather service in Oxnard said. “Stay in well-shaded areas or air-conditioned spaces.”
In the San Joaquin Valley, meteorologists are urging people to avoid walking their dogs on asphalt before dawn or after dusk. Place your hand on the sidewalk for seven seconds, they say – “If it burns you, it burns them too.” Horses and cattle need to fill their troughs daily, as consumption can double in the summer, forecasters said.
The San Francisco Bay Area is being warned of moderate risk of heat illness through Mother’s Day weekend and beyond, especially in inland areas. The weather service said people at risk include adults 65 and older, infants, athletes, outdoor workers, people with chronic diseases and people without access to effective cooling.
Sunday is expected to be warm across much of the Bay Area, with temperatures reaching 72 in San Francisco; Oakland, 75; and San Jose, 84. The mercury could reach 80 in Santa Cruz on Monday; 81 in San Francisco; 84 in Oakland; 90 in Napa; 93 in San Jose; 95 in Livermore and Gilroy; And 99 in King City.
In the Sierra Nevada, South Lake Tahoe could reach 78 on Mother’s Day and 80 on Monday. Mammoth could see a high of 79 on Sunday and 83 on Monday. “Monday and Tuesday could see near-record high temperatures,” the weather service office in Reno said.
Heat is also expected to increase in inland areas of the North Coast counties. In Mendocino County, Ukiah could reach 96 degrees by Tuesday.
All this heat is coming courtesy of “a strong high pressure system over us,” similar to the system that brought a severe heat wave to California in March, Ochs said.
it was Warmest March on record for CaliforniaAs well as nine other states — Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Wyoming — according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. It was also the warmest March for the contiguous United States in 132 years of recordkeeping.
And the heat is expected to continue till mid-May. Climate Prediction Center forecast Above average temperatures will continue for at least a week after Mother’s Day.
