The Bay Area is bracing for several days of record-breaking heat as a powerful high-pressure system moves in from the Pacific Ocean starting Monday. The system will hover over the entire region until at least the end of the week, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a Heat Advisory through Friday night.

“Over the next few days, it’s going to meander to the east and build right overhead and that’s when we’ll expect the highest temperatures,” said weather service meteorologist Ryan Gass.

During that period, warm offshore winds and sunny skies will help drive temperatures up to anywhere from 20 degrees to 30 degrees above average, Gass said.

“We generally are encouraging folks to try to remain in the shade if outdoors, take frequent breaks from the heat, if you have access to air conditioning, use it, and never leave pets, children or the elderly in unattended vehicles,” Gass said.

Temperatures inland are expected to peak in the low to mid 90s, with 70s and 80s along the coast.

Inland areas will feel the heat

The southern Salinas Valley and Central Coast are expected to endure some of the hottest temperatures and Pinnacles National Park might even top out at 100 degrees.

Wednesday through Friday “look nearly identical” in terms of heat, according to the weather service.

While people may be tempted to head to the coast to escape the heat, temperatures at many oceanside areas will also be unseasonably warm, with the hottest places, like Santa Cruz, expected to see the low 90s.

“We generally are encouraging folks to try to remain in the shade if outdoors, take frequent breaks from the heat, if you have access to air conditioning, use it, and never leave pets, children or the elderly in unattended vehicles.”
Ryan Gass, National Weather Service meteorologist

Also, beachgoers are being cautioned that ocean water temperatures will remain frigid and winterlike, prompting a real danger of “cold water shock,” Gass said.
“I would not recommend getting into the ocean,” he said.

Along with the high temperatures and warm breezes comes an extremely early-season wildfire risk, although that should be mitigated somewhat by the fact that vegetation is still green and less likely to burn.

The heat wave should begin to slowly subside starting Saturday through Monday, with a roughly 5 degree daily drop in temperatures through the early part of next week.

Kiley Russell writes primarily for Local News Matters on issues related to equity and the environment. A Bay Area native, he has lived most of his life in Oakland. He studied journalism at San Francisco State University, worked for the Associated Press and the former Contra Costa Times, among other outlets. He has covered everything from state legislatures, local governments, federal and state courts, crime, growth and development, political campaigns of various stripes, wildfires and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.