Bay Area Swelter: See Top Temperatures Recorded Amid Historic Heat

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Extreme heat temperatures were marked in a few areas of the Bay Area this week as a brutal heat wave continued to bear down on the Golden State.

The heat wave began Wednesday and is expected to intensify over the weekend in some areas.

"Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors," the National Weather Service advised. "Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances."

In the Bay Area on Thursday, some of the top temperatures were recorded in Livermore, 100 degrees; Gilroy, 99 degrees; Concord, 99 degrees; Napa, 91 degrees; Santa Rosa, 91 degrees and San Jose, 90 degrees.

On Friday afternoon, Livermore marked 99 degrees, Concord recorded 93 degrees, San Jose marked 86 degrees and San Francisco reported 69 degrees, as a layer of fog kept the city cooler than other areas.

The National Weather Service moved the start of the excessive heat warning for inland areas of the Bay Area from Saturday to Sunday.

"We weren't anticipating this much cooling," Sarah McCorkle, a forecaster with the weather service's Monterey office, told SF Gate. "It's a temporary, slight cool-down. There's a trough feature up to our north that's bringing a slight cool-down for the next few days, but it's still going to be pretty hot. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday will be the hottest days."

For much of the Bay Area, Sunday marks the start of the heat wave that will push into Tuesday, with some areas expected to feel tempertures of 100 degrees and up.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has issued a Spare the Air alert for Saturday because of triple-digit temperatures forecasted for much of the region that is expected to combine with vehicle exhaust to create unhealthy levels of smog.

The alert, the fourth issued by the air district for smog so far in 2022, is meant to make residents aware of unhealthy air quality and to encourage people to find alternatives to driving alone on Bay Area roadways.

Smog, otherwise known as ozone, can cause chest pain or throat irritation and can be particularly harmful for children, seniors and people with respiratory or heart conditions.

The air district encourages anyone planning to do outdoor exercise to do it in the early morning hours when smog levels are lower.

People can find out when a Spare the Air alert is in effect by registering for the alerts at www.sparetheair.org, calling 1(800) HELP-AIR, downloading the Spare the Air smartphone app or connecting with Spare the Air on social media.

Contra Costa County health officials urged residents Friday to take precautions over the coming days in anticipation of a weeklong heat wave that is expected to push temperatures into the triple digits.

With a heat wave across the West Coast likely to push temperatures 10 to 20 degrees higher than normal, county Health Officer Dr. Ori Tzvieli said residents should avoid strenuous outdoor activity and remain indoors in an air-conditioned space when possible and drink more water than normal.

"The cooling at night is not going to be as low as it usually gets in the Bay Area, so the opportunity for the body to cool off is not there," Tzvieli said Friday. "So it's really important, particularly during the hot times of the day, for people to try to find a cool place."

The county plans to offer cooling centers in public libraries, community and senior centers and county offices to help residents beat the heat, especially those who are unhoused.

Information about cooling centers in Contra Costa County can be found here.

The California Independent System Operator, which manages the state's power grid, has issued Flex Alerts for three consecutive days, calling on residents to voluntarily reduce their power use between 4 and 9 p.m. Friday will be the third straight day of the alerts, and Cal-ISO has warned that more are likely over the weekend.

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.

So far, residents have heeded the call, and the state's electrical grid has operated without any major interruptions during the beginning stages of the heat wave. If the Flex Alerts fail to result in reduced power usage and the system is strained, Cal-ISO could ultimately impose rolling power cuts.

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.