California heat wave: Temperatures down slightly Friday

Temperatures Friday are expected to go down slightly in Northern California due to a slight wind but will remain in the triple digits. Friday is forecast to hit a high temperature of about 103 degrees — still hot, but a few degrees cooler than Thursday’s high of 107. The record for this time of year is 109 degrees. “Get ready for the heat as it will continue to get ready to build and get even worse as we get into the back half of the weekend and looking ahead to Labor Day,” said meteorologist Tamara Berg. Plenty of sunshine brings temperatures to the low 90s by noon, topping out at 103 degrees by 4 p.m. The evening will still be mild in the mid-80s by about 9 p.m.Temperatures will continue to increase in the coming days, with a forecast high of 104 Saturday and 108 on Sunday. Labor Day is expected to be the peak of the heat event, possibly hitting temperatures of 110 degrees. “Your air conditioner will just be cranked up next couple of days and that heat is just going to linger, likely into the middle of next week,” Berg said. However, there is some respite on the horizon. Some cooling is expected in the middle of next week. Scroll through for the forecast below: KCRA 3’s weather team is calling Sunday through Tuesday heat impact days with highs forecast in the 108-111 range in the Valley. That means people should plan around the heat in the afternoons, especially students with after-school activities. This is the kind of heat you will want to plan around for the Labor Day holiday weekend. Make use of the cooler morning hours for any strenuous activities and try to limit your outdoor exposure between 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.| VIDEO BELOW | What to know about heat-related illnessesIncreased Fire RiskThe hot weather will dry fuels meaning fires can start quickly and spread faster.If you are going to be camping this weekend, be very careful with any campfires and do not leave them unattended.Be aware of your surroundings and be ready to move if you see or smell smoke.Fire officials across the region are worried that the high heat, paired with the dry conditions, will spread fires easier. Sacramento Metro Fire Captain Parker Wilbourn said that it is especially concerning with many people expected to grill outside, including in the wildland areas, during the holiday weekend.”With the conditions being so hot, we are on edge,” Wilbourn said. “Sometimes it just takes that small spark, whether it be from a barbecue or a chain hitting the ground from a trailer or any open flame at a campsite, a small spark can create a very large wildfire that threatens our communities and threatens our homes.”Read more here.KCRA’s Fire Threat IndexKCRA 3’s weather team has developed a tool the team will be using to keep you informed as fire conditions change. It’s called the Fire Threat Index. This will give you an idea of the fire risk on any given day in different areas of our coverage region so you can plan ahead.Toggle below to see the Fire Threat Index for different parts of Northern California over the next few days: Fire Threat Index: ValleyFire Threat Index: Sierra Fire Threat Index: FoothillsFire Threat Index: Coastal Hills The Fire Index will stay in the High category until cooler weather arrives next week.| Weather Resources | Important numbers for outages, more Here’s how to find NorCal cooling centersCooling centers across Northern California are set to open starting Thursday to allow some residents to get a break from the forecasted week of triple-digit heat.| Read More | Here are the cooling centers opening Thursday amid forecast triple digits in NorCalFlex Alert extended: California residents urged to ease power usageCalifornia’s grid operator is asking people to conserve power for four days in a row as it extended its Flex Alert.Cal ISO announced on Friday it would extend its Flex Alert into Saturday. On Thursday, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order meant to ramp up the state’s energy supply temporarily.Residents are urged to conserve electricity from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. each day the alert has been issued.| MORE | Flex Alert issued for Californians amid forecasted triple-digit temperaturesCustomers can help ease pressure on the grid by easing power usage between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m: Set the thermostat at 78 degrees or higher, if health permitsAvoid using major appliancesTurn off unnecessary lightsUse fans for coolingUnplug unused items| Video Below | California residents asked to ease power usage as temperatures rise in coming weekSacramento County officials recommend canceling outdoor eventsThe Sacramento County Division of Public Health and Office of Emergency Services in a release Wednesday recommends that outdoor events between noon to 8 p.m. from Saturday to Tuesday be canceled.This includes youth sports, community gatherings, parades, marches or any events that could involve children, the elderly or any people with compromised immune systems that may be sensitive to the heat. | VIDEO BELOW | Event organizers make changes to account for weekend heat What is a heat dome and why is it popping up on social media?As the name suggests, a heat dome is a region of very warm or hot air that can linger in the same general location for several days to a couple of weeks. This is a fairly common weather pattern in the U.S. West during the summer months.The “dome” effect is created when a strong area of high pressure lingers over an area for an extended period of time. The stronger the high, the more likely it is to trap air underneath it.The longer that air remains trapped in place, the more the sun works to heat the air, producing gradual warming day after day.Any area of high pressure, whether a “heat dome” or not, forces air to slowly sink. Sinking air compresses as it reaches the ground and that forces the air to warm up even more. Air also gets drier as it sinks. Drier air can heat more dramatically than air that is more moist, so this can even further amplify warming.| Read More | What is a heat dome and how is it impacting Northern California heat?Follow our KCRA weather team on social mediaChief Meteorologist Mark Finan on Facebook and TwitterMeteorologist Tamara Berg on Facebook and TwitterMeteorologist Melanie Hunter on Facebook and TwitterMeteorologist Eileen Javora on FacebookMeteorologist Dirk Verdoorn on FacebookMeteorologist Heather Waldman on FacebookWatch our forecasts on TV or onlineHere’s where to find our latest video forecast. You can also watch a livestream of our latest newscast here. The banner on our website turns red when we’re live.We’re also streaming on the Very Local app for Roku, Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV.Here is where you can download our app for the latest weather alerts.| VIDEO BELOW | What to know about Labor Day Weekend heat records

Temperatures Friday are expected to go down slightly in Northern California due to a slight wind but will remain in the triple digits.

Friday is forecast to hit a high temperature of about 103 degrees — still hot, but a few degrees cooler than Thursday’s high of 107. The record for this time of year is 109 degrees.

“Get ready for the heat as it will continue to get ready to build and get even worse as we get into the back half of the weekend and looking ahead to Labor Day,” said meteorologist Tamara Berg.

Plenty of sunshine brings temperatures to the low 90s by noon, topping out at 103 degrees by 4 p.m. The evening will still be mild in the mid-80s by about 9 p.m.

Temperatures will continue to increase in the coming days, with a forecast high of 104 Saturday and 108 on Sunday.

Labor Day is expected to be the peak of the heat event, possibly hitting temperatures of 110 degrees.

“Your air conditioner will just be cranked up next couple of days and that heat is just going to linger, likely into the middle of next week,” Berg said.

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However, there is some respite on the horizon. Some cooling is expected in the middle of next week.

Scroll through for the forecast below:

KCRA 3’s weather team is calling Sunday through Tuesday heat impact days with highs forecast in the 108-111 range in the Valley. That means people should plan around the heat in the afternoons, especially students with after-school activities.

This is the kind of heat you will want to plan around for the Labor Day holiday weekend. Make use of the cooler morning hours for any strenuous activities and try to limit your outdoor exposure between 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

| VIDEO BELOW | What to know about heat-related illnesses


Increased Fire Risk

The hot weather will dry fuels meaning fires can start quickly and spread faster.

If you are going to be camping this weekend, be very careful with any campfires and do not leave them unattended.

Be aware of your surroundings and be ready to move if you see or smell smoke.

Fire officials across the region are worried that the high heat, paired with the dry conditions, will spread fires easier. Sacramento Metro Fire Captain Parker Wilbourn said that it is especially concerning with many people expected to grill outside, including in the wildland areas, during the holiday weekend.

“With the conditions being so hot, we are on edge,” Wilbourn said. “Sometimes it just takes that small spark, whether it be from a barbecue or a chain hitting the ground from a trailer or any open flame at a campsite, a small spark can create a very large wildfire that threatens our communities and threatens our homes.”

Read more here.

KCRA’s Fire Threat Index

KCRA 3’s weather team has developed a tool the team will be using to keep you informed as fire conditions change. It’s called the Fire Threat Index. This will give you an idea of the fire risk on any given day in different areas of our coverage region so you can plan ahead.

Toggle below to see the Fire Threat Index for different parts of Northern California over the next few days:

Fire Threat Index: Valley

Fire Threat Index: Sierra

Fire Threat Index: Foothills

Fire Threat Index: Coastal Hills

The Fire Index will stay in the High category until cooler weather arrives next week.

| Weather Resources | Important numbers for outages, more

Here’s how to find NorCal cooling centers

Cooling centers across Northern California are set to open starting Thursday to allow some residents to get a break from the forecasted week of triple-digit heat.

| Read More | Here are the cooling centers opening Thursday amid forecast triple digits in NorCal

Flex Alert extended: California residents urged to ease power usage

California’s grid operator is asking people to conserve power for four days in a row as it extended its Flex Alert.

Cal ISO announced on Friday it would extend its Flex Alert into Saturday. On Thursday, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order meant to ramp up the state’s energy supply temporarily.

Residents are urged to conserve electricity from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. each day the alert has been issued.

| MORE | Flex Alert issued for Californians amid forecasted triple-digit temperatures

Customers can help ease pressure on the grid by easing power usage between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m:

  • Set the thermostat at 78 degrees or higher, if health permits
  • Avoid using major appliances
  • Turn off unnecessary lights
  • Use fans for cooling
  • Unplug unused items

| Video Below | California residents asked to ease power usage as temperatures rise in coming week

Sacramento County officials recommend canceling outdoor events

The Sacramento County Division of Public Health and Office of Emergency Services in a release Wednesday recommends that outdoor events between noon to 8 p.m. from Saturday to Tuesday be canceled.

This includes youth sports, community gatherings, parades, marches or any events that could involve children, the elderly or any people with compromised immune systems that may be sensitive to the heat.

| VIDEO BELOW | Event organizers make changes to account for weekend heat

What is a heat dome and why is it popping up on social media?

As the name suggests, a heat dome is a region of very warm or hot air that can linger in the same general location for several days to a couple of weeks. This is a fairly common weather pattern in the U.S. West during the summer months.

The “dome” effect is created when a strong area of high pressure lingers over an area for an extended period of time. The stronger the high, the more likely it is to trap air underneath it.

The longer that air remains trapped in place, the more the sun works to heat the air, producing gradual warming day after day.

Any area of high pressure, whether a “heat dome” or not, forces air to slowly sink. Sinking air compresses as it reaches the ground and that forces the air to warm up even more.

Air also gets drier as it sinks. Drier air can heat more dramatically than air that is more moist, so this can even further amplify warming.

| Read More | What is a heat dome and how is it impacting Northern California heat?

Follow our KCRA weather team on social media

Watch our forecasts on TV or online

Here’s where to find our latest video forecast. You can also watch a livestream of our latest newscast here. The banner on our website turns red when we’re live.

We’re also streaming on the Very Local app for Roku, Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV.

Here is where you can download our app for the latest weather alerts.

| VIDEO BELOW | What to know about Labor Day Weekend heat records



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