Moisture in Fresno brings clouds in Valley, but possible thunderstorms in the Sierra
A cloud covering over Fresno early Monday gave little relief to what was expected to be a record-breaking high temperature, according to forecasters.
Labor Day’s predicted 109 degrees was expected to be the first of three straight days of record highs, which are expected to peak Tuesday at 114, according to meteorologist JP Kalb with the National Weather Service in Hanford.
Sunday’s high of 107 tied the previous record.
The clouds Monday morning were the result of tropical moisture blowing into the region and are typical for the type of weather seen in the San Joaquin Valley, Kalb said. But, there was not enough moisture for precipitation in the Valley.
The message to residents was simple, Kalb said: “Stay as cool as possible, and stay hydrated,” he said.
The moisture drifting into the region led to predictions of possible thunderstorms in the Sierra Nevada, the weather service said. Those storms bring gusty winds, bursts of rain and lightning.
The weather service recommends residents go inside if they see lightning or hear thunder and wait 30 minutes before going out again.
Energy crunch feared
California’s power grid faces a potential energy deficit Monday amid the widespread heat wave, raising the prospects of blackouts around the state.
“We are looking at deficits for tomorrow, Monday, in the 2,000 to 4,000 megawatt range between the hours of 5 p.m. and 10 p.m.,” Elliot Mainzer, chief executive of the Independent System Operator, told reporters Sunday.
The ISO sounded a Flex Alert for a fifth straight day Sunday, with electricity consumers asked to scale back power usage from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. A key component of that request for voluntary action is for people to turn thermostats up to 78 degrees during those hours.
PG&E is positioning crews to respond to potential heat-related power outages in the coming days.
“Widespread heat events pose unique challenges to the state’s energy grid. In addition to the energy supply concerns driving Flex Alerts, sustained high temperatures have the potential to damage electrical equipment, leading to local outages,” the company stated in a Sunday news release.
“PG&E has activated its Emergency Operations Center and is mobilizing the necessary personnel and materials to be able to restore power safely and efficiently.”
Temperatures in the Valley are expected to drop into the 90s by this coming weekend.
Next Saturday’s high in Fresno is forecast for 99. By Sunday, it falls to 93.
This story was originally published September 5, 2022 at 9:14 AM.
