Hot weather bakes Bay Area, Northern California; excessive heat warning issued
Northern California is once again feeling the effects of a fall heat wave Monday that will peak on Tuesday and keep temperatures above normal throughout the week.
The National Weather Service issued an Excessive Heat Warning Monday afternoon for large swaths of the Bay Area and the Central Coast, including the Marin and Sonoma Coastal Ranges, North Bay interior mountains, San Francisco Bay Shoreline, East Bay Hills and interior valleys, Santa Clara Valley and Santa Clara Valley.
Earlier, the Weather Service had issued a Heat Advisory for the entire Bay Area, Central Coast and most of the Central Valley beginning at 11 a.m. Monday and lasting through 11 p.m. Wednesday. The Weather Service warned that moderate to major heat risk would likely lead to numerous heat-related impacts to those sensitive to hot weather or without access to adequate cooling.
In the Bay Area, high temperatures will range from the upper 70s to low 90s on the coast, in the 80s to upper 90s around the bay, and the upper 90s to low 100s inland. The Weather Service said the offshore winds are relatively weak, the high afternoon temperatures should trigger a late afternoon sea breeze, bringing some evening relief along the coast.
Record temperatures were possible over the next couple of days, especially on Tuesday when the peak of the heat wave will be felt.
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Fire weather concerns are prevalent along higher elevations where there could be wind gusts along mountain peaks and passes. The Weather Service said most terrain above 2,000 ft will stay in the mid 70s all night and with stronger than expected winds it's possible red flag warnings may be issued.
The conditions also prompted Pacific Gas and Electric to enact another series of Public Safety Power Shutoffs for areas of Northern California at risk of wildfires. Monday morning, PG&E had shut off power to several thousand customers in Butte, Shasta, Glenn and Tehama counties. The list of counties under a PSPS warning also include Alameda, Contra Costa and Sonoma counties.
In addition, Bay Area air quality regulators issued a Spare the Air Alert for the region because of the hot weather combined with auto emissions and weak offshore winds.
The Weather Service said onshore winds were expected to return Wednesday afternoon, bringing relief to coastal areas by Thursday and helping alleviate fire weather concerns. However, temperatures in inland areas will remain 15-20 degrees above normal into the weekend and the early part of next week.
