Fresno had its second hottest August on record. Here’s what we know about September
Last month was the second hottest August on record for Fresno, and relief from the heat isn’t expected soon, with triple-digit temperatures forecast into next week.
August 2020 in Fresno saw an average temperature of 86.2 degrees, narrowly missing the record for that month’s hottest, an 86.5 average in 2012, said meteorologist Jim Andersen with the National Weather Service at Hanford. That’s looking at all years since 1887, when the weather service started reporting records.
Record-breaking heat is also possible this weekend. Andersen said Saturday in Fresno is forecast to hit 104 degrees, challenging a 105-degree record set for that date in 1985, and Sunday should hit about 108, potentially topping a 106-degree record set in 1988.
Monday is expected to be just as hot as Sunday. Tuesday could drop to a high of 102 degrees in Fresno.
Leading up to the weekend, highs are expected in the mid- to upper-90s until Friday, when temperatures should reach 100 degrees.
The heat wave expected Labor Day weekend also puts California’s power grid at risk. The manager of California’s electricity grid Thursday issued a call for conservation for most of Labor Day weekend to avoid a repeat of last month’s rolling blackouts.
Smoke and haze from wildfires burning across California could bring temperatures down a couple degrees, which meteorologists continue to monitor closely. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District has warned the region of unhealthy air quality until the fires are extinguished. Air monitors in Fresno showed particulate matter in the air, PM 2.5, as unhealthy for sensitive individuals on Wednesday.
Andersen warned that this heat is also keeping temperatures warmer than normal at night, making the heat even more stressful on the body. He cautioned people to drink enough fluids, stay indoors with an air conditioner, and check on vulnerable individuals, including the elderly, to make sure they are OK.
This story was originally published September 3, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
