Temperatures to soar ‘well above normal’ in Northern CA. How hot will it get?
The start of summer is still a month away — but sizzling heat is already making a comeback across Northern California.
According to the National Weather Service, temperatures are expected to climb above normal in Northern California cities including Sacramento, Chico, Redding, Stockton and Modesto.
Minor heat risk is expected from Wednesday, May 6, through Friday, May 8, with conditions ramping up to a moderate heat risk heading into the weekend, the weather agency said in an X post on Tuesday, May 5.
Here’s how hot it will get:
How high will temperatures get in Northern California?
The National Weather Service said most of Northern California is in for a hot stretch, with daytime high temperatures topping 90 degrees through the weekend.
On Wednesday, the hottest temperatures were forecast in Redding, where the high was expected to near 85 degrees.
High temperatures will remain below 80 degrees in other Northern California cities, including Sacramento, Stockton and Modesto.
Daytime highs will hove above 80 degrees on Thursday and Friday, the weather service said, while the region could see highs of above 90 degrees starting Saturday, May 9, and continuing into early next week.
How bad are heat risks in California?
From Wednesday through Friday, Northern California residents should be ready for “minor” heat risk, according to the National Weather Service.
Starting Sunday, May 10, Northern California’s heat risk will be “moderate,” the weather agency said.
“Well above-normal temperatures early next week will lead to widespread moderate heat risk throughout the Valley, Delta, and foothills,” the National Weather Service said Wednesday on X.
Who is most at risk in above-normal temperatures?
The heat risk scale provides a forecast that shows the likelihood of heat-related problems occurring.
The scale calculates how hot it is compared to normal, how long the heat lasts and whether it’s likely to cause health issues based on data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It ranges from 0, meaning there’s little or no heat risk, to 4, indicating an extreme heat risk.
Minor heat risk “primarily affects those who are extremely sensitive to heat,” the National Weather Service said.
People without proper cooling and adequate hydration are also at risk in these conditions.
Moderate heat risk “affects most individuals sensitive to heat, especially those without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration,” the National Weather Service said.
Vulnerable individuals include pregnant people, newborns, children, older adults and those with chronic illnesses.
These groups are more at risk due to age and conditions that make it difficult to regulate high temperatures.
What’s in the weather forecast for Sacramento?
According to the National Weather Service’s latest seven-day weather forecast for Sacramento, the high will near 78 degrees on Wednesday, May 6. The low temperature will be around 53 degrees.
On Thursday, the high will climb to about 82, while the low will remain around 52.
Friday’s forecast calls for clear, sunny skies, with a high near 83 and a low around 55.
High temperatures will reach 90 degrees in Sacramento on Saturday. The low will be around 55.
On Sunday, Mother’s Day, temperatures will reach a high near 90 before dropping to a low around 58.
Temperatures could reach up to 97 degrees on Monday, May 11, and 98 on Tuesday, May 12.
How hot will it be in Modesto?
The weather forecast for Modesto calls for a high near 81 degrees and a low around 55 on Wednesday.
Temperatures will range from a high near 86 and a low around 54 on Thursday.
On Friday, the high will near 87 and the low will be around 55.
High temperatures will reach 91 degrees on Saturday, while the low will stick around 58.
On Mother’s Day, Modesto residents can expect temperatures to reach a high of about 94 degrees and a low around 62.
Starting Monday, temperatures in Modesto could reach the triple digits, according to the National Weather Service.
