SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A Weather Impact Alert Day continues Friday, as does a Heat Advisory for the valley, foothills, and Delta, which lasts until 8 p.m. Highs are once again in the triple digits, ranging from 103° to 106° across much of the valley. This is 10-15 degrees above the average for this time of year.
Although highs will be similar to the previous few days, we should see a little more of a Delta Breeze this evening. It will not be major, but it will help to bring cooler weather to the valley during Friday night football games.
It’s also worth noting that today marks a dubious anniversary.
On September 6, 2022, Sacramento experienced its highest temperature ever. We reached 116° on this day two years ago!
The record-breaking heat put enormous strain on the California power grid, prompting CAISO to declare an Energy Emergency Alert 3 — the final stage before rotating blackouts — on this day in 2022 for only the second time in 20 years.
Today’s expected high is 103°. Imagine adding 13 degrees of heat! Yikes! This is a rather outstanding record, especially given how late the season is.
The good news is that change is just around the corner.
The high pressure that has been hanging overhead will move east beginning tomorrow, lowering temperatures back to seasonal levels. Saturday and Sunday’s highs will be in the mid-90s. We’ll also witness the return of stronger Delta Breezes, which we’ve been missing the last several days.
Next week’s pattern is likely to vary further, although there are no more triple-digit days in the near-term forecast.