This heat wave is epic. See how it compares to the worst in Sacramento’s history

Updated Wednesday morning, Sept. 7:

Forecasts from the National Weather Service indicate that the heat wave Sacramento is experiencing could be the second-longest streak in the city’s history.

Sacramento’s recorded high temperatures go back to 1877. During that time, the most consecutive days the city has recorded high temperatures of 100 degrees or more is 11. The city has never had a streak stop at 10 consecutive days of triple-digit temperatures, but it has had streaks end at 9 consecutive 100-degree days three times in the past.

The current triple-digit streak is projected end after 10 days, according to forecasts Wednesday, with temperatures finally dipping below 100 degrees on Saturday.

The current streak — which includes the hottest day ever recorded in city history and is expected to notch four days of temperatures of 110 degrees or more — will also have the highest average temperature of any streak lasting eight days or more in city history.

This story was originally published September 2, 2022 at 8:28 AM.

Nathaniel Levine

The Sacramento Bee

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Bee visuals editor Nathaniel Levine joined the staff in 2003. His work has received awards from the Society of News Design, the Best of the West journalism competition and the California News Publishers Association, among others. A native Californian, Levine grew up in Grass Valley and attended UC Davis.