California is finally set to experience relief from a severe midsummer heatwave that has gripped much of the state for over a week, elevating the risk of wildfires and causing temperatures to soar in inland communities.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has forecasted a gradual cooldown beginning this week, with a return of cooler weather and coastal drizzle to the Golden State.
On Monday, heat warnings and advisories still remain in effect for various regions in Northern California, but many of these are expected to expire by Tuesday.
Forecasters mentioned, “One more day of inland heat” with a continued “Moderate Heat Risk” for segments of North, East, and South Bay counties, alongside inland Monterey and San Benito counties.
A significant change in weather patterns will begin on Tuesday, as a thick marine layer rolls in, promising a decrease in temperatures throughout the week.
The NWS noted that while the change may start off somewhat lightly, a more substantial trough is expected to arrive on Wednesday, which will dominate the weather forecast through the weekend.
This change will likely result in cloudy, drizzly, and foggy nights, while sunny conditions are anticipated for interior regions during the afternoons.
In the meantime, smoke from the Gifford Fire, the largest active wildfire in California, has affected parts of Southern California and is starting to reach the Bay Area.
However, this infiltration was not expected to significantly impact air quality, as forecasters indicated that mainly high-level smoke would be observed due to shifting transport flows pushing the smoke southward.
Despite last week’s extreme heat, which saw temperatures in many inland communities soaring into the 90s and exceeding 100 degrees in some areas, the coastal regions remained relatively mild.
Locations like San Francisco have seen temperatures staying between the mid-60s and 70s, with minor increases expected.
For example, San Francisco is forecasted to peak at 69 degrees on Monday, with a slight possibility of reaching 72 degrees by Friday.
In contrast, inland cities like San Ramon encountered near triple-digit temperatures over the weekend.
By Monday, temperatures are expected to cool down to a high of 85 degrees in San Ramon, with further gradual declines, stabilizing around 80 degrees for the remainder of the week.
In the South Bay, cities such as Palo Alto, Milpitas, and Mountain View can expect afternoon sunshine resulting in highs in the low 80s throughout the week.
Interestingly, even with the cessation of heat warnings and advisories projected for Tuesday, many areas in the Bay have remained spared from the most oppressive heat that has afflicted much of California.
During this heatwave, coastal Bay Area cities saw only minimal warming, bringing a brief respite from what has been an unusually chilly summer.
Although San Francisco enjoyed some sunny days, forecasts anticipate the return of coastal drizzle, breezy conditions, and cloudy weather starting Monday night.
The NWS had referred to last month as “No Sky July,” as the city recorded its coldest start to summer since 1965 at the San Francisco International Airport.
In July alone, San Francisco experienced its coldest half of summer since 1982, while across the Bay, Oakland faced its coldest summer since 1970, marking a record low for the city.
Meteorologist Matt Mehle emphasized that although these cold temperatures were not breaking records, it has been around 20 to 30 years since California has seen this kind of cool summer weather.
Overall, California’s weather is expected to change significantly this week, allowing for some much-needed coolness and potentially lowered wildfire risks.
image source from：patch
