Northern California forecast and heat wave: What to know, cooling centers, outages, health dangers
Updated: 12:55 PM PDT Jul 2, 2024
AN UPDATE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US ON THIS TUESDAY MORNING. I’M LETICIA ORDAZ. THE HEAT WAVE IS ON. YEAH IT IS. AND I’M MIKE CHERRY. TODAY IS A KCRA 3 WEATHER ALERT DAY. AND WE HAVE TEAM COVERAGE FOR YOU AS THIS HEAT WAVE BECOMES MORE INTENSE. KCRA 3’S MIKE TESELLE IS AT LIVE AT CAL OES BUILDING IN SACRAMENTO WITH ALL OF THE STATE’S RESOURCES HELPING TO FIGHT FIRES IN KCRA 3. MELANIE WINGO IS IN WINTERS WITH MORE ON PG&E E’S PLANNED OUTAGES AS THE FIRE RISK REMAINS HIGH, BUT FIRST, LET’S GET TO KCRA 3 METEOROLOGIST KELLY KERN. SHE HAS A LOOK AT THE FORECAST AS YOU STEP OUT THE DOOR. YEAH, IF YOU THOUGHT YESTERDAY WAS HOT, WAIT TILL YOU SEE WHAT WE’RE DEALING WITH TODAY. NOT ONLY YESTERDAY WAS AN IMPACT DAY. TODAY IS AN ALERT DAY BECAUSE NOT ONLY ARE WE DEALING WITH VERY HOT TEMPERATURES, POTENTIALLY RECORD TYING, BUT WE’RE ALSO DEALING WITH GUSTY WINDS, A RED FLAG WARNING IN PLACE FOR TODAY AND FOR TOMORROW. AND THE HIGHS. YEAH, WE’RE TALKING 107 TO 110 IN THE VALLEY RIGHT NOW. WE’RE ALREADY AT 85 DEGREES IN SACRAMENTO. STOCKTON’S COMING IN AT 86. WE’RE DEALING WITH THOSE NORTH WINDS AS WELL. YUBA CITY 15MPH SACRAMENTO 13. THE HIGHS TODAY. 109 DEGREES IN SACRAMENTO. THAT WOULD TIE THE RECORD. THAT WAS ACTUALLY SET THAT LAST YEAR. AND FOR THE FOOTHILLS TODAY. YEAH I MEAN LOOK AT THIS 103 DEGREES IS WHAT WE’RE EXPECTING NEAR AUBURN UP IN THE SIERRA. TEMPERATURES WILL BE TOPPING OUT IN THE MID 80S. WE’RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH HOTTER IT’S GOING TO GET FOR THE REST OF THIS WEEK, HOW LONG THIS HEAT WAVE IS GOING TO LAST. AND OF COURSE, MORE ON THOSE WINDS THAT’S COMING UP IN A FEW MINUTES. THANK YOU SO MUCH, KELLY. AND RIGHT NOW, THE HOT TEMPERATURES AND THE WIND FORECASTS HAVE SOME WITHOUT POWER. BUT IT’S ON PURPOSE. PG AND E IS CUTTING POWER TO SOME COMMUNITIES BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED FIRE DANGER. LET’S GET TO KCRA 3’S. MELANIE WINGO NOW LIVE FROM WINTERS NEAR SOME OF THE AFFECTED COMMUNITIES. THERE. WE HAVE BEEN IN WINTERS ALL MORNING LONG AND IT HAS BEEN WINDY ALL MORNING LONG. RIGHT NOW WE’RE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA OF WINTERS AND THINGS ARE NORMAL HERE IN TERMS OF THE POWER BEING ON, BUT NOT FAR FROM WHERE WE ARE. ABOUT EIGHT MINUTES AWAY. THAT’S WHERE SOME OF THOSE PLANNED OUTAGES ARE IN EFFECT, AND WE JUST RECEIVED SOME INFORMATION INTO OUR NEWSROOM THIS MORNING FROM PG AND E ABOUT THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THOSE OUTAGES. AND THE COUNTIES AFFECTED AS WELL. TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SCREEN. SOME OF NOTE ACROSS OUR AREA 314 CUSTOMERS IN BUTTE COUNTY 114 CUSTOMERS IN SOLANO COUNTY, AND 230 CUSTOMERS ACROSS YOLO COUNTY AFFECTED. ALSO, PG AND E REPORTING THAT BECAUSE OF SOME FAVORABLE WEATHER CONDITIONS, IT DID DELAY THE START OF SOME OF THOSE PLANNED OUTAGES FOR ROUGHLY 10,000 ADDITIONAL CUSTOMERS, MOSTLY IN GLENN AND SHASTA COUNTIES. OF COURSE, NORTH OF WHERE WE ARE. BUT THESE PLANNED SHUTOFFS ARE IN EFFECT BECAUSE OF THE RED FLAG CONDITIONS WE’RE SEEING. OF COURSE, RED FLAG CONDITIONS ARE THE HIGH WINDS, THE LOW HUMIDITIES, THE DRY VEGETATION THAT HAS DRIED UP OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS AS OUR TEMPERATURES HAVE BEEN GETTING WARMER AS WE’VE ENTERED THE THE SUMMER MONTHS, UTILITY IS WORRIED THAT THE WINDS THAT WE’RE SEEING THIS WEEK COULD SEND TREE BRANCHES INTO POWER LINES, WHICH IS A FIRE DANGER. AND THAT’S WHY THE UTILITY DID MAKE THAT DECISION TO DE-ENERGIZE THOSE POWER LINES. SO WHAT I’VE ALSO LEARNED FROM THE PG AND E WEBSITE IS THAT ORIGINALLY THE PLAN WAS TO GET THE POWER BACK ON BY ABOUT 10:00 TOMORROW NIGHT, 10:00 WEDNESDAY NIGHT. HOWEVER, WHEN I JUST CHECKED THE PG AND E WEBSITE, IT INDICATES THAT THE ESTIMATED TIME AS TO WHEN THE POWER IS GOING TO BE BACK ON IS TO BE DETERMINED. AS OF RIGHT NOW. SO THEY’VE PERHAPS DELAYED IT A BIT. WE’LL KEEP WATCHING IT FOR YOU. REPORTING LIVE IN WINTERS MELANIE WINGO KCRA THREE NEWS. MELANIE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LIVE REPORT THIS MORNING. AND THE HIGH HEAT COUPLED WITH THE RED FLAG WARNING IS SPARKING ACTION FROM STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT LEADERS. THE STATE’S EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER IS NOW ACTIVE DURING THIS TIME OF HIGH FIRE DANGER. LET’S GET TO KCRA 3’S. MIKE TESELLE LIVE INSIDE THE STATE’S OFFICE OF EMERGENCY HEADQUARTERS TO DETAIL THE STATE’S BIGGEST CONCERN DURING THE HEAT WAVE. YEAH, AND WE’RE IN THE MEDIA BRIEFING ROOM LOOKING OUT OVER THE FLOOR OF THE OPERATION CENTER. AS YOU CAN SEE, IT IS ACTIVE. IT IS OPEN ALL BECAUSE OF THIS HIGH HEAT AND THE POTENTIAL FOR FIRE DANGER. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT FOR A SECOND BECAUSE TAKE A LOOK. YOU KNOW, THIS OPERATION CENTER BEING ACTIVATED IN TIMES OF OBVIOUS EMERGENCY HERE, THIS DESCRIBED AS, QUOTE, THE NERVE CENTER OF THE STATE’S OPERATIONS. THAT’S MONITORING WHAT IS OCCURRING STATEWIDE WITH THE HEAT AND WITH ANY ACTIVE FIRE STARTS. AND THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT LEADERS HERE ARE ALREADY DEALING WITH IS THEY’RE LEADING THE PRE-POSITIONING PROGRAM. THAT IS A PROGRAM THAT WORKS WITH COUNTIES TO OFFER FUNDING TO HELP STAFF ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. THOSE ADDED RESOURCES, ACCORDING TO THE OES, INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 41 FIRE ENGINES TO DISPATCHED THROUGHOUT THE STATE TO RESPOND TO ANY NEW FIRE. STARTS MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS WE GET MULTIPLE FIRES ACROSS THE STATE AND THAT WILL DRAW DOWN AVAILABLE RESOURCES. AND WHEN WE HAVE THAT SHORTAGE OF RESOURCES, FIRES TEND TO GET BIGGER. AND AGAIN, AS YOU HEARD, ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THEY HAVE ACTIVATED THIS IS BE ABLE TO MANAGE ANY OF THOSE INCIDENTS IN THEIR WORDS, TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY WILDFIRES THAT DO START DURING THIS HEAT WAVE DO NOT TURN INTO QUOTE UNQUOTE MEGA DISASTERS. AND THAT IS WHY THE THE OPERATION CENTER HAS BEEN ACTIVATED HERE. THIS MORNING AND WILL LIKELY STAY OPEN INTO POSSIBLY THROUGH THE WEEKEND. ALL DEPENDING ON THOSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. LIVE INSIDE THE THE STATE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES MIKE TESELLE KCRA 3 NEWS. ALL RIGHT, MIKE, THANKS SO MUCH. AND WITH THE HEAT AND WINDY CONDITIONS, SOLANO COUNTY IS JUST ONE AREA UNDER A RED FLAG WARNING TODAY. OFFICIALS IN FAIRFIELD ARE TAKING STEPS TO REDUCE THE FIRE DANGER TO REDUCE THE RISK FOR FAST SPREADING FIRES, CITY OFFICIALS CLOSED SEVERAL OPEN SPACES AND PARKS THROUGH FRIDAY. CREWS ARE ALSO ASKING PEOPLE TO BE EXTRA CAUTIOUS. ANY OPEN FLAME OR FIRE OR NEAR ANYTHING THAT’S COMBUSTIBLE. OBVIOUSLY WE WANT TO AVOID YOUR ENGINE OR SOMETHING COULD LIKE SPARK AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, YOU DON’T REALIZE WHAT HAPPENED. AND THEN YOU’VE GOT A FIRE IN THE BACK OF YOUR BACKYARD AND IT’S TOO LATE AT THAT POINT. AND AS THE 4TH OF JULY APPROACHES, CITY OFFICIALS ARE REMINDING PEOPLE THAT ALL FIREWORKS ARE BANNED IN FAIRFIELD FIREFIGHTERS WANT YOU TO DO YOUR PART. THIS MORNING TO LOWER THE CHANCES OF FIRE SPARKING, AND THIS INCLUDES EASY, IMPORTANT STEPS. DON’T MOW YOUR LAWN AT ALL. WHILE THERE IS A RED FLAG WARNING IN PLACE AND ANY YARD EQUIPMENT WITH METAL BLADES RAISES THAT RISK OF A FIRE EVERYWHERE. ALSO, DON’T PARK YOUR CAR AND DRY GRASS AND MAKE SURE YOUR CHAINS ARE NOT DRAGGING ON THE ROADWAY, ESPECIALLY IF YOU’RE PULLING A BOAT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AND IF YOU SMOKE, DON’T BE CARELESS WITH HOW YOU DISPOSE YOUR CIGARETTES. BE SURE YOU DISPOSE OF THEM PROPERLY AND SACRAMENTO METRO FIRE IS INCREASING THEIR RESOURCES FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS. IT’S ALL IN PREPARATION FOR THE INCREASED FIRE RISK. WITH MORE STAFF, OUR CREWS HAVE A BETTER CHANCE AT STOPPING FIRES WHILE THEY’RE SMALL. CAL OES IS ALSO STAFFING FIRE ENGINES ACROSS THE STATE. THEY WANT TO AVOID HAVING A NUMBER OF LARGE FIRES BURNING AT THE SAME TIME, ESPECIALLY WITH THE APPROACHING HOLIDAY. WE’RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE FIREWORKS AND THE DANGERS OF A SMALL SPARK, CREATING A MAJOR FIRE THAT THREATENS THE LIVES AND PROPERTY. WE’RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEAT. WE’RE CONCERNED ABOUT PEOPLE BEING OUT ON THE RIVER AND NOT WEARING THEIR LIFE JACKETS. THE FIRE CREWS WANT TO EMPHASIZE TAKING SAFETY INTO YOUR OWN HANDS WHEN IT COMES TO FIREWORKS. MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE THEM IN A BUCKET OF WATER FOR AT LEAST A DAY BEFORE YOU THROW THEM AWAY. THE HEAT MAY ALSO IMPACT THE SACRAMENTO LIGHT RAIL SCHEDULE. SAC ORTIZ SAYS THE EXTREME TEMPERATURES CAN STRAIN LIGHT RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THAT MEANS TRAINS WILL OPERATE AT A SLOWER SPEED. SECURITY STAFF ARE DOING WHATEVER THEY CAN TO KEEP THE TRAINS UP AND RUNNING. THIS WEEK, SEVERAL COUNTIES AND CITIES IN THE REGION HAVE COOLING CENTERS OPEN THIS WEEK IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY, THERE ARE NINE OPEN AT THE MOMENT. ORGANIZERS SAY THEY OFTEN SEE HOMELESS PEOPLE USING THE CENTERS FOR A FEW HOURS A DAY WHERE THEY CAN GET AIR CONDITIONING WATER. THEY CAN CHARGE THEIR DEVICES AND GIVE THEIR BODY THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESET, COOL BACK DOWN BEFORE THEY GO. UM, BACK OUT INTO THE WEATHER. UM, AFTER IT’S COOLED DOWN A LITTLE BIT. SO WE ACTIVATE THOSE COOLING SPACES DURING THE HOTTEST PORTION OF THE DAY INTO THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING WHEN WE KNOW THAT IT’S GOING TO BE OVER 100 DEGREES AND YOU CAN SCAN THE QR CODE ON YOUR SCREEN FOR A FULL LIST OF COOLING CENTER LOCATIONS. MANY OFFER WATER AND A PLACE TO CHARGE YOUR PHONE. AS YOU JUST HEARD, OUR LIST INCLUDED HOURS, LOCATION, AND WHETHER PETS ARE ALLOWED. WE ALSO HAVE MUCH MORE INFORMATION ON THE FORECAST EXPECTED POWER SHUTOFFS, AND
Northern California forecast and heat wave: What to know, cooling centers, outages, health dangers
Updated: 12:55 PM PDT Jul 2, 2024
Tuesday not only continues the prolonged heat wave in Northern California, but windy conditions will also pose an increased wildfire risk.KCRA 3 is calling Tuesday an Alert Day because of both the dangerous heat that could lead to health risks and the high fire risk. What’s more, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. has warned thousands of its customers that it could shut off power in areas where its equipment could pose a fire hazard. Some customers are already seeing outages.As of Tuesday afternoon, evacuations were ordered in parts of Napa County near Calistoga for the Toll Fire and near Oroville in Butte County for the Thompson Fire. Another fire is burning near Travis Air Force Base in Solano County. Meteorologist Tamara Berg said temperatures in the Sacramento Valley could range from 107 to 110 degrees. The record temperature for this time of year is 109 degrees — established in 2023 — and Tuesday’s high for downtown Sacramento could tie that record.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 The National Weather Service also issued a red flag warning that will be in effect through 8 p.m. Wednesday. The agency issues those warnings when conditions make it likely for a wildfire to burn and spread. Berg said wind gusts could range in the 30-35 mph. A north wind will also make the already high risk of wildfire even worse. Read more about why north winds are dangerous during wildfire seasons hereFor these reasons, KCRA 3’s Alert Day, which we issue when weather conditions could compromise safety, will last through Sunday. Sacramento Regional Transit said days of extreme heat can have a significant strain on light rail infrastructure and trains will operate at reduced speed. 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.
Tuesday not only continues the prolonged heat wave in Northern California, but windy conditions will also pose an increased wildfire risk.
KCRA 3 is calling Tuesday an Alert Day because of both the dangerous heat that could lead to health risks and the high fire risk. What’s more, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. has warned thousands of its customers that it could shut off power in areas where its equipment could pose a fire hazard. Some customers are already seeing outages.
As of Tuesday afternoon, evacuations were ordered in parts of Napa County near Calistoga for the Toll Fire and near Oroville in Butte County for the Thompson Fire.
Another fire is burning near Travis Air Force Base in Solano County.
Meteorologist Tamara Berg said temperatures in the Sacramento Valley could range from 107 to 110 degrees. The record temperature for this time of year is 109 degrees — established in 2023 — and Tuesday’s high for downtown Sacramento could tie that record.
The National Weather Service also issued a red flag warning that will be in effect through 8 p.m. Wednesday. The agency issues those warnings when conditions make it likely for a wildfire to burn and spread.
Berg said wind gusts could range in the 30-35 mph. A north wind will also make the already high risk of wildfire even worse.
Read more about why north winds are dangerous during wildfire seasons here
For these reasons, KCRA 3’s Alert Day, which we issue when weather conditions could compromise safety, will last through Sunday.
Sacramento Regional Transit said days of extreme heat can have a significant strain on light rail infrastructure and trains will operate at reduced speed.
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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.
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