'Excessive' CA Heat Triggers Flex Alert Extension

CALIFORNIA — California officials are once again asking residents to limit energy usage amid "excessive" heat, which has placed a strain on the state's power grid.

The state's Independent System Operator extended a statewide Flex Alert into Thursday just hours after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order to temporarily ramp up the state's energy supply.

Under the alert, Californians are asked to conserve electricity between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. High temperatures typically trigger a steep increase in power use as more people turn on air conditioning to keep cool.

Residents are asked to make the following adjustments under the alert:

• Set thermostats to 78 degrees or higher
• Avoid using large appliances
• Avoid charging electric vehicles
• Turn off unnecessary lights

"Lowering electricity use during that time will ease strain on the system, and prevent more drastic measures, including rotating power outages," grid operators wrote in a statement.

Despite the state's recent push for residents to ditch gas-powered cars, the utility grid operator has asked residents to avoid charging their electric vehicles. The request to avoid charging such vehicles comes days after the state announced plans to ban the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035.

If weather or grid conditions worsen, grid operators said they may issue a series of emergency notifications to access additional resources.

"We will be seeing dangerously warm temperatures this weekend," the National Weather Service tweeted out of its Bay Area office.

In what’s forecast to be the most extensive heat wave in California this year, temperatures in Northern California are expected to be 10-20 degrees warmer than normal through next week. In Southern California, temperatures are expected to climb 10-18 degrees warmer than usual.

"An extended period of dangerous heat will impact much of our area over the holiday weekend and into early next week. All populations will be at risk for heat-related illnesses. Drink plenty of water, seek air conditioning, and avoid outdoor activities during the day," NWS officials said.

An excessive heat warning remains in effect from 11 a.m. Wednesday morning to 8 p.m. Monday with temperatures expected to climb from 85 to 100 degrees through Thursday and 90 to 105 degrees Sunday and Monday. At night, forecasters anticipate abnormally warm overnight lows between 65 and 75 in Santa Barbara County South Coast, Ventura County Inland Coast, and Los Angeles County Inland Coast including Downtown Los Angeles.

In Riverside County, temperatures rose a few degrees Monday and were spiking even more Tuesday -- with more of the same in the forecast for Wednesday and beyond.

In Northern California, temperatures will begin climbing Wednesday at least a few degrees in most areas, with temperatures reaching the low 90s in the East Bay's interior. For the holiday weekend, temperatures are expected to reach the 80s on the coast, the mid 80s to low 90s around the bay and the 100s in most inland areas.

Although grid operators are urging residents to reduce energy usage, weather service officials warn that in many areas, fans will not be adequate to keep cool.

"The combination of hot daytime temps and warm overnight lows over several days will lead to very high risk of heat-related illness for all populations," NWS officials said. "Fans will not provide adequate cooling, so use Air Conditioning or seek A/C at a public location or local cooling shelter."

Weather officials expect this heat wave to be "exceptionally dangerous" due to extreme afternoon highs and "oppressive" overnight lows.

Residents are urged to keep tabs on vulnerable family members, neighbors and friends. Newborns, pregnant people, children, elderly residents and those with chronic illnesses are especially at risk, officials said.

"Everyone is at risk from the dangers of extreme heat, but these groups are more vulnerable than most," NWS officials said. "Age and certain conditions make the body less able to regulate temperature."

Residents are also urged to protect their pets.

The Kennel Club has advised that dogs should not be walked on pavement during extreme heat because it can burn their paws.

The best way to tell if a pavement is too hot for your dog to walk on is to place the back of your hand on the pavement for seven seconds. If it’s too painful for your hand, then it’s too painful for your dog’s paws, the Kennel Club said.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has reminded residents to never leave pets inside a locked vehicle, even for short periods of time, since the interior of a vehicle parked in the heat can quickly turn deadly.