Is there anywhere to escape Central Valley’s heat wave? Here’s forecast for the Bay and Tahoe

The Central Valley is battling a triple-digit heat wave — with temperatures in the region forecast to be as high as 115 degrees next week.

Sacramento may break a record Labor Day weekend. It could beat a 1955 high September downtown temperature of 109 degrees.

As Sacramento County urges residents to limit or postpone outdoor events and activities — and if you’re willing to brave the holiday weekend traffic — you might catch some relief in other areas of Northern California.

Don’t drive north ... or south. You’ll just hit more dangerously hot temperatures. Your best bet is to head east or west, where temperatures — while still hot — are lower than beat the Central Valley.

San Francisco area temperatures Labor Day weekend

Just like the capital region, the Bay Area is in an excessive heat watch Saturday through Monday, though higher temperatures are slated for the interior portions of the region — Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Sonoma and Santa Clara counties — the weather service stated in its advisory. Temperatures of 90 to 105 degrees are likely.

However, as of Thursday morning, the forecast is showing daytime highs around 80 degrees in downtown San Francisco.

Over at Point Reyes, and other parts of the coast, highs are expected to be in the mid- to upper 60s through the holiday weekend. For the heat-worn Sacramentan, it could make for a lovely day.

Highs in Monterey are in the mid to upper 70s, peaking Monday.

The weather service urges you to keep an eye on the forecast and be prepared to drink plenty of water.

Lake Tahoe area temperatures Labor Day weekend

Temperatures around Lake Tahoe — forecast from the weather service’s Reno office — will be around 80 degrees. Overnight lows will be in the low 60s.

You can expect higher temperatures in South Lake Tahoe, around 90 degrees, at the peak and 50 overnight. Truckee will be a little cooler.

To get those less-than-100 temps, you will certainly have to drive further than the foothills in Placerville — where highs will peak Monday at 105.

Is there anywhere else to go?

Get to the coast or the mountains — that’s about it. And even then, relief is slim.

The entire western United States is under a heat dome, or a ridge of strong, high pressure “mixed with La Niña influences,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Your best bet might just be to stay indoors as temperatures skyrocket and air quality worsens, taking a road trip could harm conditions.

If you need access to a cooling center, there will be several open across the Sacramento area.

This story was originally published September 1, 2022 at 11:35 AM with the headline "Is there anywhere to escape Central Valley’s heat wave? Here’s forecast for the Bay and Tahoe."