Much of California is heading into a stretch of unusually hot weather that could push temperatures above 100 degrees in parts of the state. Forecasters say the heat will spread across the Central Valley, inland Southern California, the deserts and even some Bay Area locations, creating conditions that are far hotter than what is typical for this time of year.
In the Central Valley, temperatures could rise above 100 degrees for the first time this year, with Fresno forecast to reach as high as 102 degrees by Monday. That would mark the earliest the city has reached that level since records began, according to Brian Ochs, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Hanford.
Early-season heat raises concern
Ochs said the timing matters because people are often less prepared for extreme temperatures in spring. “People won’t be as used to it,” he said, warning that the body can be affected more quickly when hot weather arrives before the usual summer pattern.
The threat is not limited to one region. Forecasters have also flagged elevated fire danger in Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, along with the Kern County desert and the slopes of the Mojave Desert.
Desert temperatures climb sharply
The hottest readings are expected in the desert communities, where afternoon highs could become extreme by Monday. Barstow could reach 102 degrees, Borrego Springs 107, Palm Springs 108 and Death Valley 111.
Imperial County may see afternoon temperatures as high as 112 degrees, while forecasters also issued an extreme heat watch for Palm Springs and the rest of the Coachella Valley, the deserts of San Diego County and the San Gorgonio Pass. A separate extreme heat watch was issued for parts of Imperial County starting Sunday morning through Monday night.
Coastal areas stay cooler, but inland heat spreads
California’s coast often sees “May gray,” the cool, cloudy pattern that tends to keep temperatures down. This time, forecasters say the coast will still be the mildest part of the state, but inland areas around Southern California will heat up fast.
In Los Angeles County, downtown Los Angeles, Pasadena and Simi Valley are expected to climb into the 80s for the Mother’s Day weekend. On Sunday, temperatures could reach 77 in Irvine, 82 in Anaheim, 83 in downtown Los Angeles, 86 in Pasadena, 89 in Ontario and Riverside, 91 in Santa Clarita, 93 in Paso Robles and San Bernardino, 94 in Lancaster and 106 in Palm Springs.
By Monday, some of those areas may warm even more. Forecasts call for 81 in Irvine, 86 in downtown Los Angeles and Anaheim, 91 in Pasadena, 93 in Riverside, 94 in Ontario, 95 in Santa Clarita, 97 in Lancaster, 98 in San Bernardino and 108 in Palm Springs.
The coast will remain noticeably cooler. San Clemente is expected to top out at 70 on Monday, while Oceanside could reach 72, San Diego 73 and Ventura 76.
Health guidance expands as temperatures rise
Weather officials are urging residents to take the heat seriously and adjust outdoor plans. The Weather Service in Oxnard advised people to “limit strenuous outdoor activities to just the early morning hours” and to “stay in well-shaded areas or air conditioned spaces.”
In the San Joaquin Valley, officials are also advising pet owners and livestock handlers to prepare for the heat. Residents are being told to walk dogs before dawn or after dusk and to keep them off hot asphalt.
Forecasters offered a simple test for pavement safety: place a hand on the surface for seven seconds. “If it burns you, it burns them,” they said. Horses and livestock also need extra attention, with troughs filled daily because water use can double in hot conditions.
Bay Area, Sierra and North Coast also feel the impact
The San Francisco Bay Area is expected to face a moderate risk of heat illness during Mother’s Day weekend and beyond, especially inland. The Weather Service said the risk is higher for adults 65 and older, infants, athletes, outdoor workers, people with chronic diseases and those without effective cooling.
Temperatures in the Bay Area will vary widely. San Francisco could reach 71 on Sunday and 78 on Monday, while Oakland may rise to 74 and then 82. San Jose could hit 84 on Sunday and 92 on Monday. Other inland spots may go even higher, with Napa at 88, Santa Rosa at 90, Concord and Gilroy at 92, Livermore at 94 and King City at 98.
The heat is also expected to reach the Sierra Nevada. South Lake Tahoe could hit 78 on Mother’s Day and 80 on Monday, while Mammoth could see 79 on Sunday and 83 on Monday. The Weather Service office in Reno said there could be “near-record heat Monday and Tuesday.”
In the North Coast’s inland areas, the warmth is expected to spread as well. Ukiah in Mendocino County could climb to 93 degrees by Monday.
A strong pressure system is driving the pattern
Ochs said the hot spell is being caused by “a strong high pressure system over us,” similar to the one behind California’s severe heat wave in March. That month became the hottest March on record for California and nine other states, and the hottest March ever recorded in the contiguous United States, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information.
Forecasters say the current pattern is likely to last beyond the holiday weekend. The Climate Prediction Center expects above-average temperatures to continue for at least a week after Mother’s Day, keeping much of the state under a prolonged early-season heat pattern.
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