LAKE COUNTY >> An excessive heat warning that was issued over the weekend in many central parts of Northern California was lifted Monday night, but the triple-digit furnace will continue to through Labor Day weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
Forecasters say high temperatures are due to a stagnant high-pressure system. But there is some relief in sight, as the system is expected to dwindle as fall approaches.
“This pretty strong high-pressure system is more typical in the middle of the summer, but rarely set up late as we transition into fall,” Meteorologist Mike Kochasic of the National Weather Service in Sacramento said.
Over the weekend, the warning switched from moderate to excessive as temperatures reached triple digits, setting record-high numbers on Sunday. Among them, Redding hit 111 with an old record of 110 in 1988. Sacramento’s old record was 103 in 2001 and reached 108 on Sunday. And Modesto braced through 106 — their last record of 104 was in 1944.
Elsewhere records were broken or threatened as mercury sizzled. Sunday’s hot spots included Healdsburg (106 degrees) in the North Bay,and Gilroy (102) in the South Bay, according to the weather service.
After Santa Rosa suffered on Saturday through a historically high 102 degrees, besting the previous record of 100 hit back in 1988, and spots in the Tri-Valley seeing highs of 105, Sunday saw Santa Rosa hit 100, falling just short of a 2008 high of 101, while Livermore hit 107, just shy of a 1944 high of 109.
Lake County saw temperatures reach 103 in places on Monday and it is expected to reach a blistering 101 today. A slight break from triple digits will occur tomorrow, when temperatures fall to the mid or upper 90s, before marking 101 on Thursday.
The Lake County Fair promises to be a sweltering affair. Friday and Saturday will remain in the low 100s and Sunday is forecasted to be hot and dry, with a high near 97.
Officials say extra precaution is necessary this week as severe hot and dry conditions could increase the risk of fires.
Although the models predict the stalled system to weaken come the fall, there is little hope offered for those who expect a turning point when August ends. Forecasters with the weather service are expecting another warming trend to kick off September.
“We’re pretty confident there will be a warming trend,” Roger Gass of the NWS said. “How hot it will get, that is the question mark.”
Though the excessive heat warning concluded Monday at 8 p.m., Kochasic says the public is advised to try and stay out of the sun during peak hours, 2 p.m. through 7 p.m. as the triple-digit weather continues.
“Find shade and drink plenty of water even if you are not thirsty. Also, don’t forget about kids and pets inside cars. Always check before locking your car,” he added.
Mark Gomez and Patrick May of the Bay Area News Group contributed to this report
