Excessive heat warning issued for Modesto. Here’s when and how hot it could get this week
Modesto will see temperatures above 100 degrees this week, according to the National Weather Service.
The weather service issued an excessive heat warning for the northeastern Sierra foothills and Central Valley — including Modesto — that lasts from 11 a.m. Tuesday to 8 p.m. Thursday.
Affected communities include Modesto and the rest of Stanislaus County, as well as Paradise, Sacramento, Grass Valley, Chico, Oroville, Jackson, Redding, Marysville, Yuba City, Red Bluff and Stockton.
Area residents can expect dangerously hot conditions with temperatures ranging from 95 to 108 degrees and widespread major heat risks, with the hottest temperatures likely on Wednesday, the weather service said in the warning.
Here’s what to expect in Modesto:
How high will temperatures get?
Most of the Valley and northeastern Sierra foothills will experience heat risks from Tuesday through Thursday, with high temperatures potentially exceeding 100 degrees.
Overnight low temperatures will remain warm, ranging from the high 60s to mid-70s, the weather service said.
What’s in the weather forecast for Modesto?
On Monday, Modesto residents can expect clear, sunny skies and a high temperature of 83 degrees, according to the latest seven-day weather forecast. The overnight low temperature will be 61.
Winds could range from 7 to 11 mph, with gusts potentially reaching up to 22 mph.
The high temperature Tuesday should be near 101, and the low approximately 72. Winds are expected to range from 6 to 14 mph. Gusts could get as high as 25 mph.
Wednesday will see a high near 104 degrees and a low around 71.
Thursday’s forecast predicts a high near 103 degrees and a low around 67.
On Friday, the high will be approximately 101 degrees, with a low around 63.
Weekend temperatures in Modesto are expected to reach a high of 96 degrees. The low will be about 64 degrees on Saturday.
What does heat risk mean?
Starting Tuesday, Modesto’s heat risk will be major.
The heat risk scale, or the weather service’s HeatRisk Prototype, provides a forecast that shows the likelihood of heat-related problems occurring.
The scale calculates how hot it is compared to normal, how long the heat lasts, and if it’s likely to cause health issues based on data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It ranges from 0, meaning there’s little or no heat risk, to 4, indicating an extreme heat risk.
The heat risk is projected to be a 3, or major, on Tuesday through Thursday and a 2, or moderate, on Friday through the weekend.
According to the weather service, major heat risk “affects anyone without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration.”
Moderate heat risk “affects most individuals sensitive to heat, especially those without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration.”
Who’s at risk in Modesto?
Vulnerable individuals include those who are pregnant, newborns, children, older adults and those with a chronic illness. These groups are more at risk due to age and conditions that make it difficult to regulate high temperatures.
“Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors,” the weather service said in the warning. “Do not leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles.”
This story was originally published June 3, 2024 at 12:23 PM with the headline "Excessive heat warning issued for Modesto. Here’s when and how hot it could get this week."
