100 degrees in Sacramento already? It could happen this weekend — here’s how to prepare

The notorious hot Sacramento weather is slowly creeping back in, and it’s a good idea to prepare for the heat before it arrives.

From Saturday to at least Tuesday, the city can expect highs between 91 and 95 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Overnight lows will range from the high 50s to the low 60s.

As of Tuesday, it’s uncertain how hot it will actually get but meteorologists predict it could reach 100 degrees over the weekend.

Here’s what you need to know to keep your home and yourself cool for the next couple of days:

Prepare your home for the heat

If you haven’t already, you should check your home’s air filter and test your air conditioning before Saturday.

Utility companies Sacramento Municipal Utility District and Pacific Gas and Electric Company recommend setting your thermostat to 78 degrees or higher, health permitting, to save on cooling costs.

You’ve probably heard the advice to close room doors when the air conditioning is running. According to SMUD, that puts “extra strain” on the central system.

Instead, make sure the air is flowing throughout the home by keeping all doors and air vents open.

When you’re away, consider turning temperatures down from 5 degrees to 8 degrees.

Keeping the home dark and cool by turning off lights, opening windows and using fans is a cost-effective option. Just be sure to close blinds and drapes to block the sun’s rays.

FANS

According to SMUD, fans cost about 90% less to operate than a central air conditioning system.

To maximize the effectiveness of the fan, Lasko, an appliance company, recommends people position the fan to face the opposite wall where most of the activity is within the home.

This forces the fan’s air to hit the surface, bounce off and mix with the rest of the air in the room.

The result: a cooler space.

If you have a ceiling fan, Energy Star recommends people program it to move in a counterclockwise direction to create a “wind chill” effect.

WHOLE HOUSE FANS

Whole house fans are not designed to replace air conditioning, according to whole house fan company Centric Air, but it could help reduce the need for it during hot days.

Whole house fans are typically mounted in the home’s attic.

Once you open a few windows and turn on the whole house fan — if you have one — the hot air within the home is sucked into the fan, pushed into the attic and out of the vents.

At the same time, the outdoor air is drawn in from the open windows to help reduce the temperature in the home.

A similar method is used for single-story homes with whole-house fans.

Prepare yourself for the heat

Between Wednesday and Saturday, temperatures in Sacramento will increase by more than 20 degrees and the National Weather Services advises people to practice heat safety over the next several days.

Those who exercise outdoors should avoid doing so during peak sunlight. Instead, do so early in the morning or late in the evening.

PETS

The same goes for walking pets, according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

A tip: put your hand on the pavement for a few seconds. If it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for your pet.

Here are the signs of heatstroke and burned paw pads, according to RSPCA:

• Heavy panting and difficulty breathing
• Excessively drooling
• Lethargic, drowsy or uncoordinated
• Collapsed or vomiting

BURNED PAW PADS

• Limping or refusing to walk
• Licking or chewing at their feet
• Pads darker in color
• Missing part of their pad
• Blisters or redness

This story was originally published May 10, 2023 at 10:56 AM.