Thunderstorms and near 100-degree heat forecast for Northern California. Here’s when
The following was originally published Wednesday, May 31
Temperatures in Northern California this week will begin to warm up and some areas will even see isolated showers.
The Sacramento area has seen “cooler than average temperatures” over the last two weeks, said Sara Purdue, a National Weather Service meteorologist. But temperatures will warm up this weekend.
Here’s what you can expect in the coming days throughout Northern California:
Thunderstorms
Isolated thunderstorms are forecast to hit the Sierra and Southern Cascade area starting Wednesday afternoon. The storm is predicted to bring along heavy rain, gusty winds and lighting, according to a weather service.
There is a potential for the thunderstorm to “creep into the foothills as well,” Purdue said.
“If you see a flash, dash inside” is a motto the weather service highly encourages.
Purdue said people should be aware of what the weather forecast is and if there are thunderstorms near, to go inside. That can be inside a building, or if you’re out camping inside of a car, Purdue said.
Thunderstorms bring concerns at the start of wildfire season, as strong winds and lightning pose a risk. However, it’s dry storms that are more likely to set a spark and at lower elevations.
“Basically, there’s very little to no precipitation, and if there’s a lightning strike that could lead to fire starts because the vegetation is also very dry,” meteorologist Idamis Del Valle-Shoemaker told The Bee last year.
Conditions are still wetter in the Sierra, as a record snowpack melts. Thunderstorms are also forecast for Sunday in the mountains, according to the weather service.
Temperatures highs will reach 71 degrees, with lows expected to dip to 31 degrees.
It’s going to heat up
Come the weekend temperatures throughout the region will start to heat up.
Starting Saturday, temperatures in Sacramento could hit 90 degrees, according to the weather service’s five-day forecast.
“It’s expected to cool down a little bit again” starting Monday, Purdue said.
Elsewhere in the Central Valley, temperatures are rising even higher.
Redding will near triple digit temperatures Sunday, according to the forecast, with a high of 99. Modesto could see 96 degrees.
Temperatures in the Sacramento region will stay closer to the low and mid 90s.
This story was originally published May 31, 2023 at 1:49 PM with the headline "Thunderstorms and near 100-degree heat forecast for Northern California. Here’s when."