Quick Take:
The National Weather Service Bay Area is classifying the risk as “moderate,” and is advising residents to take precautions such as drinking water and staying indoors. Lookout will keep you posted on updates here throughout the day.
A heat advisory is in effect for Santa Cruz County, with temperatures forecast to reach a high of 99 degrees in downtown Santa Cruz on Thursday afternoon and soaring into the low 100s in the mountains.
The National Weather Service Bay Area is classifying the risk as “moderate,” and is advising residents to take precautions such as drinking water and staying indoors.
The record for this day in Santa Cruz was 97 degrees back in 1981. Santa Cruz is one of many places across the Western U.S. forecast to break temperature records.
Drew Peterson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Bay Area, said the hot weather is expected to be short-lived. Peterson said that in Santa Cruz, heat waves are usually followed by a “southerly surge of marine stratus” — clouds coming up from Southern California — that quickly cools things off. As of Thursday morning, Peterson said this was forecast to happen Thursday night, so Friday temperatures should be significantly cooler.
Santa Cruz County is not offering any cooling centers or similar resources for residents, with no specific directions for the unhoused. County spokesperson Jason Hoppin said in an email that “because of the moderating effect of the marine layer, we have never run cooling centers in the county (very few facilities even have AC).”
Instead, the county is reminding people to find shade, drink water, avoid overexertion, and never leave children or pets in the car unattended.
POSSIBLE BLACKOUTS: The California Independent System Operator issued a statewide Flex Alert, asking people to conserve energy and warning that you might experience rolling blackouts between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. Thursday. On Thursday afternoon, the agency extended the alert to 6-9 p.m. Friday.
“The public’s help is essential when extreme weather or other factors beyond our control put undue stress on the electric grid,” said the president and chief executive officer of the ISO.
Before the Flex Alert is in place, you can:
- Pre-cool your home by lowering the thermostat
- Use major appliances, like your dishwasher, and clothes washer and dryer
- Close window coverings to keep your home or apartment cool
- Charge electronic devices and vehicles
When the statewide Flex Alert is in effect this evening, you can:
- Set your thermostat to 78 degrees or higher, if health permits
- Avoid the use of major appliances
- Turn off all unnecessary lights
- Use fans for cooling
- Unplug unused items