Modesto-area temperatures remain in 100s; lightning lights up Bay Area sky
An excessive-heat warning will remain in effect through Wednesday as stifling temperatures continue to blanket Modesto and the Northern San Joaquin Valley region.
By the 4 p.m. hour Sunday, the historic temperature for the date — 104 degrees, set in 1992 — had been smashed. The Modesto Irrigation District weather page showed the day’s high as 108. The average temperature for Aug. 16 is 92 degrees, MID archives show.
On Saturday, and for the second straight day, the high of 104 and low of 79 both tied and broke, respectively, records for that date in Modesto.
The high temperature matched the 104 on Aug. 15, 1996, and the maximum low temperature of 79 beat the 75 recorded on the same date in 1992, according to the Modesto Irrigation District.
A high of 106 is predicted for Monday, 107 on Tuesday and 104 on Wednesday, the National Weather Service reported. Thursday is forecast to hit near 99, but Friday and Saturday may return to the low triple digits.
The most recent stretch of at least four days of 100-plus temperatures occurred in July 2018. There was a six-day stretch in June 2017.
On Saturday, temperatures reached 100 in the 2 p.m. hour — an hour after a few drops of rain fell in Modesto — and lasted into the 8 p.m. hour.
The combination of heat, humidity and clouds caused an early Sunday morning lightning show in the Bay Area.
The continued high temperatures are putting stress on California’s power grid, which faltered for a second straight day and caused minutes-long rolling blackouts for PG&E users, and others, throughout the state.
The California Independent System Operator, which runs the grid, declared a Stage 3 emergency around 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Rolling blackouts soon followed.
Few Stanislaus County residents are vulnerable to the blackouts because the majority get their power from the Modesto and Turlock irrigation districts, which aren’t on the ISO grid.
The excessive-heat warning is expected to last through Wednesday before temperatures are expected to slide back into the 90s.
The warning is defined by “extreme and prolonged heat that will significantly increase the potential for heat-related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities,” according to the National Weather Service.
Recommendations on how to avoid problems are as follows:
- Avoid yard work or exercise at the hottest times
- Make sure pets have shady spots and water outside
- Drink water but avoid caffeine and alcohol
Check on neighbors who might be vulnerable
Be careful in swimming pools and other bodies of water
The weather service also reminds residents that “local rivers and streams continue to run fast” and those seeking a way to cool of at those spots are to take precautions, like using a safety vest.
This story was originally published August 16, 2020 at 11:00 AM.
