Northern California heat wave this week increases wildfire risk

Northern California forecast and heat wave: What to know, cooling centers, possible outages, health dangers

Updated: 12:56 PM PDT Jul 1, 2024

TEMPERATURES WILL SOAR TO TRIPLE DIGITS AGAIN TODAY, AND THEY WILL BE HERE TO STAY FOR A WHILE. AT LEAST THAT’S WHAT WE’RE FORECASTING. WE’RE IN THE BEGINNING OF WHAT COULD BE A SERIOUS HEAT WAVE THAT IS NOT ONLY RAISING TEMPERATURES, BUT ALSO FIRE DANGER. AS WE APPROACH THE 4TH OF JULY HOLIDAY, FIRE CREWS ARE PREPARING FOR THE WORST AND THEY’RE GETTING THEIR RESOURCES IN PLACE. THEY HAVE BEEN BUSY THIS PAST WEEKEND. A FIRE BURNING ON THE AMERICAN RIVER PARKWAY CREPT CLOSE TO WESTBOUND LANES OF BUSINESS 80. YOU CAN SEE THE FLAMES HERE IN THE DRY BRUSH. SACRAMENTO FIREFIGHTERS WERE GETTING AN ASSIST FROM METRO FIRE’S HELICOPTER DROPPING WATER ON IT, DROPPING WATER ON THOSE FLAMES FROM OVERHEAD AS THAT FIRE EVEN STOPPED TRAFFIC FOR A TIME. WE HEARD FROM FIRE CREWS ABOUT THE CONDITIONS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO FIRES THIS TIME OF YEAR. OUR CONCERN IS THIS VEGETATION IS VERY DRIED OUT. IT’S PRIMED TO BURN. IT’S VERY TALL AS WELL. WE DON’T TYPICALLY SEE THE BRUSH OUT HERE THIS TALL. NOW, BOTH SACRAMENTO FIRE AND SACRAMENTO FIRE TELL KCRA THREE THEY’RE BRACING FOR THIS WEEK AND PLAN TO HAVE EXTRA RESOURCES ON STANDBY JUST IN CASE WITH THE BRUSH AND HEAT, A LOT OF ATTENTION IS BEING FOCUSED ON FIREWORKS. SACRAMENTO FIRE IS REMINDING EVERYONE THAT SHOOTING OFF ILLEGAL FIREWORKS CAN COME WITH A BIG FINE, STARTING AT $1,000. IT’S ALSO A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD. YOU CAN REPORT ILLEGAL FIREWORKS TO IN SACRAMENTO BY CALLING THE NON-EMERGENCY FIRE NUMBER AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN. YOU CAN ALSO REPORT THEM THROUGH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT’S APP THAT’S AVAILABLE FOR ANDROID AND APPLE PHONES. AND TURNING NOW TO OUR KCRA THREE WEATHER. AS WE TALK ABOUT THE HOT WEATHER THAT’S EXPECTED TODAY IS AN IMPACT DAY BECAUSE OF THIS EXPECTED HEAT WAVE. AND HERE’S A LIVE LOOK AT DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO RIGHT NOW FROM OUR SACRAMENTO SKY CAMERA. THE HOT WEATHER ALSO IMPACTING PEOPLE IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. LET’S GET OVER TO METEOROLOGIST KELLY KERN FOR HOW HOT DO YOU THINK WE’RE GOING TO GET TODAY KELLY. IT’S GOING TO BE HOT TODAY BUT IT’S GOING TO GET A WHOLE LOT HOTTER AS WE GET LATER INTO THE WEEK. NOW TODAY AS YOU MENTIONED, IS THAT IMPACT DAY. BUT WE ALSO ARE GETTING READY FOR A RED FLAG WARNING THAT’S ACTUALLY STARTING TONIGHT AND GOING THROUGH WEDNESDAY. AND LIKE I SAID, EVEN HOTTER TEMPERATURES ON THE WAY RIGHT NOW AT NOON, IT’S ALREADY 90 DEGREES IN SACRAMENTO, 92 DOWN IN MODESTO, YUBA CITY ARE ALREADY AT 95. WE’RE ALREADY IN THE LOW TO MID 70S UP BY LAKE TAHOE THERE AS WELL. AND FAIRFIELD YOU’RE COMING IN AT 87 DEGREES WINDS RIGHT NOW. NOT MUCH OF A PROBLEM. BUT TONIGHT THESE WINDS ARE REALLY GOING TO BE PICKING UP OUT OF THE NORTH. AND WE’RE GOING TO THAT’S WHY WE’RE GOING TO HAVE THAT HEIGHTENED FIRE DANGER OR THAT RED FLAG WARNING AS WE HEAD THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THIS AFTERNOON, THE HIGH TODAY, 103 DEGREES. BUT WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE THE SEVEN DAY FORECAST IN JUST HOW MUCH HOTTER IT’S GOING TO GET. I’VE GOT THAT COMING UP IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AND THAT HOT WEATHER ALSO RAISING SOME HEALTH CONCERNS KCRA THREE’S ERIN HEFT HAS MORE ON THE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO STAY SAFE IN THE HEAT. REPORTING OUTSIDE OF ONE OF THE MANY COOLING CENTERS POPPING UP AROUND OUR ENTIRE REGION. BUT ASIDE FROM FINDING A COOL PLACE, THERE ARE A FEW THINGS YOU CAN KEEP IN MIND TO STAY SAFER AS WE APPROACH THESE HOT DAYS. ACCORDING TO RESEARCH FROM THE CDC, THE BEST WAYS TO STAY COOL AND HEALTHY DURING HEAT WAVES ARE TO WEAR LOOSE CLOTHING, STAY INDOORS OR IN THE SHADE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. LIMIT ACTIVITY OUTDOORS, WHICH DOES INCLUDE EXERCISE. IT’S ALSO IMPORTANT TO STAY HYDRATED WHILE KEEPING YOUR CHILDREN AND PETS HYDRATED. AS WELL. SUNSCREEN DON’T FORGET IT! AND IF YOU’RE HAVING A HARD TIME STAYING COOL AT YOUR OWN HOME, THE CDC RECOMMENDS TAKING A COLD BATH OR COLD SHOWER. PEOPLE MOST PRONE TO HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES ARE BABIES AND CHILDREN. ADULTS OVER THE AGE OF 65, PEOPLE WHO ARE OVERWEIGHT, PEOPLE WHO WORK AND EXERCISE OUTDOORS, AND PEOPLE WITH HEART DISEASE OR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, OR THOSE TAKING CERTAIN MEDICATIONS FOR DEPRESSION OR ANXIETY, INSOMNIA OR POOR CIRCULATION BACK OUT HERE ON AUBURN BOULEVARD, THOUGH THEY ALSO SAY THE CDC JUST TO FIND A COOL PLACE, WHETHER IT BE A COOLING CENTER LIKE THE ONE BEHIND ME OR A LIBRARY MALL MOVIE THEATER, THE GOAL IS STAYING COOL AND SAFE DURING THESE TRIPLE DIGIT DAYS. UPCOMING. BACK TO YOU, AND HERE’S A LOOK AT SOME OF THE COOLING CENTERS OPEN IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY. THE LOCATIONS THAT YOU SEE THERE ON YOUR SCREEN, THE AUBURN BOULEVARD OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT CENTER NOW OPEN AND WILL BE UNTIL NEXT MONDAY. ALSO, THEY ALLOW PETS. THERE’S ALSO THE SAM AND BONNIE PARNELL COMMUNITY CENTER ON MEADOWVIEW ROAD AND THE NORTH, A EMERGENCY SHELTER ON NORTH, A STREET. THERE ARE ALSO ADDITIONAL CENTERS IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY IN CITRUS HEIGHTS, RANCHO CORDOVA, ELK GROVE, AND GALT. ON TOP OF THAT, THERE ARE FOUR CENTERS OPENING IN YOLO COUNTY, AS WELL AS FOUR OPENING IN STOCKTON AND SEVERAL OTHERS OPENING IN TURLOCK AND STANISLAUS COUNTY. SO MAKE SURE YOU SCAN THIS QR CODE THAT YOU SEE RIGHT NOW ON THE SCREEN WITH YOUR CAMERA ON YOUR PHONE, AND IT WILL TAKE YOU TO A LIST OF ALL LOCAL COOLING CENTERS THAT INCLUDES THEIR HOURS AND ADDRESSES. YOU CAN ALSO FIND THE FLIER FOR A FREE RIDE TO SAC CITY AND COUNTY CENTERS AT SAC. RT. PG, AND E SAYS IT WILL LIKELY TURN OFF POWER TO THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS THIS WEEK BECAUSE OF HEIGHTENED FIRE RISK. ITS PUBLIC SAFETY POWER SHUT OFF WOULD IMPACT ABOUT 12,000 CUSTOMERS AND PARTS OF EIGHT COUNTIES, AND THAT INCLUDES A TOTAL OF 300 CUSTOMERS IN RURAL PARTS OF YOLO AND SOLANO COUNTIES. THE CONCERN IS THE WIND COULD CAUSE TREE BRANCHES OR DEBRIS TO HIT POWER LINES AND CAUSE FIRES. PG E’S OUTAGE MAP SHOWS THE SHUTOFFS COULD START AS EARLY AS 230 ON TUESDAY MORNING. THE PL

Northern California forecast and heat wave: What to know, cooling centers, possible outages, health dangers

Updated: 12:56 PM PDT Jul 1, 2024

Monday marks the start of a heat wave in Northern California, one that will increase the chances of wildfires happening amid sweltering heat and warm winds.KCRA 3 is calling Monday an Impact Day because of temperatures above 100 degrees. Another thing to look out for is a north wind, which is expected to increase the risk of wildfires. The heat could also pose health risks for those who are exposed for too long without proper cooling.Find a list of cooling centers here.Here is where to find public pools to cool off.Want to visit a water park? Here’s a list of locations.Here’s how to know the differences between sunburns, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heatstroke. How to keep your pets safe amid hot summer temperatures Meteorologist Tamara Berg said temperatures will only continue to rise for the rest of the week. From Tuesday to Saturday, KCRA 3 is labeling those days as Alert Days because of the temperatures well above average and the high wildfire risk.The National Weather is also issuing a red flag warning from Monday at 11 p.m. through Wednesday. Wind gusts as strong as 30 mph are expected.In response, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. has notified thousands of its customers that it will shut off power in areas where its live electric lines could cause wildfires. The utility calls these planned outages Public Power Safety shutoffs.Berg said it is likely the heat wave will last through the next seven days. See our Fire Threat Index below. | MORE | A 2024 guide for how to prepare for wildfires in CaliforniaHere are key websites that are important for all Californians during wildfire season.Cal Fire wildfire incidents: Cal Fire tracks its wildfire incidents here. You can sign up to receive text messages for Cal Fire updates on wildfires happening near your ZIP code here.Wildfires on federal land: Federal wildfire incidents are tracked here.Preparing for power outages: Ready.gov explains how to prepare for a power outage and what to do when returning from one here. Here is how to track and report PG&E power outages.Keeping informed when you’ve lost power and cellphone service: How to find a National Weather Service radio station near you.Be prepared for road closures: Download Caltrans’ QuickMap app or check the latest QuickMap road conditions here.REAL-TIME TRAFFIC MAPClick here to see our interactive traffic map.TRACK INTERACTIVE, DOPPLER RADARClick here to see our interactive radar.DOWNLOAD OUR APP FOR THE LATESTHere is where you can download our app.Follow our KCRA weather team on social mediaMeteorologist Tamara Berg on Facebook and X.Meteorologist Dirk Verdoorn on FacebookMeteorologist/Climate Reporter Heather Waldman on Facebook and X.Meteorologist Kelly Curran on X.Watch 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.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

Monday marks the start of a heat wave in Northern California, one that will increase the chances of wildfires happening amid sweltering heat and warm winds.

KCRA 3 is calling Monday an Impact Day because of temperatures above 100 degrees. Another thing to look out for is a north wind, which is expected to increase the risk of wildfires. The heat could also pose health risks for those who are exposed for too long without proper cooling.

Meteorologist Tamara Berg said temperatures will only continue to rise for the rest of the week.

From Tuesday to Saturday, KCRA 3 is labeling those days as Alert Days because of the temperatures well above average and the high wildfire risk.

The National Weather is also issuing a red flag warning from Monday at 11 p.m. through Wednesday. Wind gusts as strong as 30 mph are expected.

In response, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. has notified thousands of its customers that it will shut off power in areas where its live electric lines could cause wildfires. The utility calls these planned outages Public Power Safety shutoffs.

Berg said it is likely the heat wave will last through the next seven days. See our Fire Threat Index below.

| MORE | A 2024 guide for how to prepare for wildfires in California

Here are key websites that are important for all Californians during wildfire season.

REAL-TIME TRAFFIC MAP

Click here to see our interactive traffic map.

TRACK INTERACTIVE, DOPPLER RADAR

Click here to see our interactive radar.

DOWNLOAD OUR APP FOR THE LATEST

Here is where you can download our app.

Follow our KCRA weather team on social media

• Meteorologist Tamara Berg on Facebook and X.
• Meteorologist Dirk Verdoorn on Facebook
• Meteorologist/Climate Reporter Heather Waldman on Facebook and X.
• Meteorologist Kelly Curran on X.

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.