Summer shows up early in Modesto

Though the calendar says we have two weeks left of spring, summer arrived to the Northern San Joaquin Valley with a wallop on Monday.

The record high for Modesto on June 8 is 104, set just two years ago, according to the Modesto Irrigation District. Monday looked to challenge that, with National Weather Service forecasters predicting a high of 103. But the high temperature topped out at 102, according to MID.

Of course, triple-digit temperatures in these parts aren’t unusual in the summer. But Monday’s heat followed several days of moderate, below-normal temperatures.

The heat is expected to ease off a bit in the next couple of days, with a high of 96 expected Tuesday followed by 92 on Wednesday. Forecasters also predict a slight chance of thunderstorms. Temperatures after that are expected to ramp back up to close to 100 by Friday.

The lower temperatures will likely be good for golfers at Spring Creek Country Club in Ripon, where the first round of the four-day Junior Golf Association of Northern California Match Play Championshp is being contested.

There were 270 golfers who teed off Monday morning, but three players walked off the course due to the heat.

Monday’s intense heat, while fleeting, serves as a reminder that summer is coming, and folks should be prepared, officials said.

“People should remember to stay well-hydrated and have access to shade,” said David Jones, spokesman for the Stanislaus County Office of Emergency Services.

Jones also suggested residents put together a plan for what to do if it gets hot and the air conditioning goes out, an all-too-common experience.

“Now is a great time to be thinking ahead,” Jones said. “Identify friends or family members who can assist you in times when heat is significant.”

Other options include spending time at the Stanislaus County Library or Vintage Faire Mall.

“We do live in the Central Valley,” Jones said. “Typically, we get more than 20 days (per year) that are more than 100 degrees.”

More information is available online at www.stanemergency.com.

This story was originally published June 8, 2015 at 5:50 PM with the headline "Summer shows up early in Modesto."