The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued extreme heat warnings and a Red Flag Warning for the majority of the Central Coast on Tuesday.
Extreme Heat Warning
NWS issued an “Extreme Heat Warning” for the majority of southwest California, away from the coast, starting at 11:00 a.m. Thursday to 9:00 p.m. Friday.
Dangerously hot conditions with temperatures of 95 to 105 degrees are expected.
There is a high risk for dangerous heat illness for anyone, especially for the very young, the very old, those without air conditioning, and those active outdoors.
NWS advises drinking plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Do not leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles. Car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.
Take extra precautions when outside. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Red Flag Warning Through Saturday
NWS issued a Red Flag Warning starting Thursday through Saturday, with the possibility of an extension. This warning is due to unseasonably high temperatures and low humidity expected to impact the interior mountains and Santa Ynez Mountain Range.
Temperatures are expected to be between 95 and 110 degrees with relative humidity dropping between 8-20%. There’s also a slight chance of isolated thunderstorms beginning Friday with wind gusts up to 15 mph.
The Santa Barbara County Fire Department reminds residents that if fire ignition occurs, rapid fire growth and spread are likely, threatening life and property.
Residents should report any signs of smoke immediately by calling 911 and use extreme caution when operating spark- or flame-producing machinery in hazardous grass or brush areas.
Good Samaritan Shelter Activates Cooling Centers
In Santa Barbara County, one nonprofit is working to alert unhoused residents of the increased temperatures that are expected this week. Good Samaritan Shelter will activate its cooling center protocol beginning Thursday through Friday.
All Good Samaritan Shelter street outreach teams will be deployed to distribute essential cooling supplies to the unhoused population across the county. The outreach teams will provide water, cooling towels, electrolytes, water bottles, ice packs, and informational materials on the signs of heat stroke and exhaustion.
“We are committed to protecting our community’s most vulnerable during these high temperatures,” said Kirsten Cahoon, Director of Homeless Services at Good Samaritan Shelter. “Our teams are prepared to offer crucial supplies and information to prevent heat-related illnesses and provide relief.”
This initiative aims to ensure the health and safety of vulnerable individuals who are exposed to extreme heat conditions.
[Ed Note: This article has been updated with the added Red Flag Warning]
Also Read
- Rare March Heat Wave Hits Southern California as Temperatures Climb Toward 100 Degrees
- Extraordinary and Prolonged March Heatwave to Break Records and Decimate Mountain Snowpack Across U.S. Southwest, Including Much of California
- Heat Advisory Issued for Santa Barbara, SLO Counties as Temperatures Soar 30 Degrees Above Normal
- Southern California Braces for Powerful Santa Ana Winds This Weekend With Gusts Up to 65 Mph
- Sierra Nevada Storm Leaves Behind Dramatic Wave Clouds, NASA Image Show
Wait… Didn’t the dok and the rube say that August would not be abnormally hot … several times?
They constantly demonstrate we can’t trust them on *any* subject.
The NWS chart above showed that the highest predicted temperature in the city of Santa Barbara in the next several days will be 78 F. Hardly extreme heat! And I checked the NWS wind forecast for Santa Barbara for the next few days – 10 mph max. So the headline, “Extreme Heat Warnings and Wind Advisories Issued for Central Coast” doesn’t really apply to the South Coast. The article should have clarified that.
Wait and see…
Weather information and forecasts for “Santa Barbara” are typically for the airport. The nearby ocean has a moderating effect on temperature so the official Santa Barbara temperature readings in the summer are often lower than what most Santa Barbarans actually experience. Traveling even a short distance inland from the beach the temperature difference is noticeable.
For example, at 11:53am the temperature at the airport was 81º. But by 11:24am it was already 90º at the Botanic Garden, just 3 miles from the beach.
THIS!
We could say it one hundred times a day. It needs to be said. I looked at the NWS forecast for zip code 93105 yesterday and it had highs in the 80’s.
NOT.
Look at your neighborhood weather stations on Wundermap (I do so daily during heat waves). Even when you toss out the highest station reading, it give a much more accurate picture of the temps in your neighborhood. Mine have been at 95-97 at the highest, but most are 88 to 92.
I don’ t like heat, but this is not extremely hot — which is why I give thanks every day that I live in Santa Barbara, even though my microclimate is quite warm. (by “this” I mean the current heat wave. Not terrible, and no wind. We’ll almost certainly get worse this year — summer temps in SB just started, with the return to school, which I and others who have lived here a long time expect.)
Every forecast one might Google uses airport temps. Remember, the airport is technically SB, due to the annexation by SB City. And it’s next to the ocean! It is NOT accurate for temps for the majority of us.
Check out your neighborhood here:
https://www.wunderground.com/wundermap
My neighborhood topped out at 95.5 today (close to Stevens Park below Foothill), but most high readings were 92.
Hmmm. La Goleta x Volante had a reported high of 95 today, per Wundermap reporting stations. That’s hot.
It’s also a reading I would question if it was the highest in the neighborhood; Use your judgment.
Saying it’s not extremely hot doesn’t mean it’s not dangerous!
And extremely unpleasant. I don’t like it at all.
August is hot usually.
But this is unusually hot. Look up the definition of “abnormal”. It applies to both the current weather and your interpretation of words.