WALNUT CREEK, CA (KCBS RADIO) – Hot is the only way to describe the weather in the Bay Area Tuesday.
The National Weather Service said most of the region will see temperatures in the 90s while inland locations could see the thermometer reach 110. The agency issued an Extreme Heat Warning for most of the region that went into effect at around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday and will be in effect until 11 p.m. Wednesday.
But it is not just the typical areas that will see the heat – like Walnut Creek, which expects a high of 108 today.
“We usually talk about the city and the coastal areas sort of being a safe haven from that heat,” National Weather Service meteorologist Joe Merchant told KCBS Radio. “Well, that’s not going to be the case.”
Downtown San Francisco is expecting a daytime high of 96. Cal OES and area counties have cooling centers open to help people beat the heat.
Coastal areas will see relief before the inland areas Thursday as some onshore cooling returns.
“The winds will be a little breezier on the back side once the ridge axis moves east of our area,” Merchant explained.
The heat – plus the winds – will be increasing the wildfire risk, which is getting the attention of PG&E.
The utility company has not issued any preemptive power outages in its effort to prevent fires.
“To make sure we are turning off the power where we need to for safety but leaving it on for as many customers as we can, where we can safely,” PG&E spokesperson Dave Canny said.
San Francisco will see progressive relief each day over the next week or so, with high temperatures hovering around 90 Wednesday, sliding into or near the 80s Thursday through Sunday, and down to the 70s Monday.
San Jose will see three straight triple-digit or near triple-digit days with highs of 101 Tuesday, 102 Wednesday, and 99 Thursday. The weekend will see temperatures settle into the 90s and the 80s will return Monday.
Oakland will have highs in the mid-90s Tuesday and Wednesday, but will cool down into the low- to mid-80s through Sunday. The 70s will return Monday.
Walnut Creek will be hot from now through the weekend. After Tuesday’s expected high of 108, the triple digits will be here with an expected high of 110 Wednesday and a high of 104 Thursday. Friday and the weekend will see temperatures near triple digits – 98 Friday, 97 Saturday, and 96 Sunday. Monday will see highs in the low-90s.