What can Stanislaus residents expect from ‘excessive heat’ wave ahead of July Fourth?
The first heatwave of the year is expected to hit the Central Valley this weekend.
It will begin Friday, with a predicted high temperature of 103 degrees and a north-northwest wind of 5 to 9 mph. Saturday, Modesto residents can expect a high near 107, while Sunday should reach near 106 and Monday near 101. Throughout the weekend, conditions are expected to be sunny and clear.
Temperatures at night will remain around 70 on Friday and Saturday. As of midday Wednesday, the heat warning was to be in effect until Sunday night.
The start of the week will provide little relief for Modesto residents, with a predicted high of 101 Monday. Tuesday, the Fourth of July, should have a high near 96.
All of Stanislaus County is included in the National Weather Service’s excessive heat warning. Tuolumne County residents also are under the heat warning, though the temperatures will be a bit lower. The weather service says the highs in Sonora will be near 98 Friday, and 102 both Saturday and Sunday.
The weather service and public safety officials urge caution when it comes to cooling off in rivers. Conditions in waterways are dangerous as water will be “running cold and fast,” the weather service warned on social media.
In late May and early June, two women drowned in Tuolumne County rivers. The California Nevada River Forecast Center recorded the Tuolumne River near Modesto at 58.8 degrees at 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 27.
The heat wave will increase the chance of heat-related health conditions, especially for those outdoors. In a social media post, the Stanislaus County Office of Emergency Services advised residents to consider avoiding daytime outdoor activities.
The weather service recommends avoiding being outdoors in the sun from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
It has released precautions residents can take. They include:
Remaining in an air-conditioned room
Looking out for new forecasts and updates
Checking in on loved ones and neighbors
Never leaving a child or pet unattended in a car
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. has tips on how to save energy and money this summer that can be found at tinyurl.com/pgeadvice.
The Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority on Ninth Street will be open as a cooling center and passenger fares to a cooling center can be waived upon request. The transit center is the only location that will be open Sunday and one of the few locations that will stay open beyond the late afternoon, when heat usually peaks.
Many branches of the Stanislaus County library system will serve as cooling centers, with some being open on Saturday.
A complete list of Stanislaus County cooling zones is at stanemergency.com/pdf/cooling-locations.pdf.
