Another reason to stay inside: Northern California to see full week of triple digit weather

Much of Northern California’s Sacramento Valley will experience severe heat this week in excess of 100 degrees, prompting the National Weather Service to issue an excessive heat watch.

Sacramento-area weather service forecasters predicted at least five days of triple-digit weather, with the potential to reach up to 110 degrees.

The excessive heat watch, which is set to take effect Monday at noon and will last through Friday night, indicates potentially dangerous health risks given prolonged exposure to the searing heat.

California’s interior is the main target of the heat watch, which spans from the Oregon state line in the north down past Modesto and into Merced County in the south.

“A prolonged period of very hot temperatures is expected next week and possibly into next weekend,” weather service forecasters wrote. “Moderate to very high heat risk may impact the general population as well as those who will be spending extended periods outdoors.”

While all of Sacramento County is included in the heat watch, it is expected to see only moderate risk of heat-related illnesses. The hottest parts of Northern California will be further north, in parts of Butte, Glenn, Colusa and Shasta counties. These areas are all expected to see high to very high risks due to extreme heat.

While temperatures in the Valley could range between 99 and 110 degrees, the foothills may offer slight relief. There, temperatures are expected to stay between 95 and 105 degrees. Near the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, it will likely stay in the 90s. Average temperatures in the valley are usually 5 to 15 degrees cooler at this time of year.

Overnight temperatures will not drop much, offering little chance at cooling. The weather service predicts nightly low temperatures in the mid-60s into the 70s.

“Heat related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke can occur due to prolonged exposure to hot temperatures, including the general population,” forecasters warned. “People most vulnerable include those who are spending lots of time outdoors, those without air conditioning, young children, the elderly and those with chronic ailments.”

The weather service recommends limiting outdoor activity as much as possible next week and suggests drinking extra water to stay hydrated.