Heat wave breaks records in Fresno. Californians urged to cut energy use amid blackout concerns

Historic high power demands prompted an appeal to state consumers to cut usage even more, as Fresno anticipated a 114-degree high-temperature Tuesday, the peak of a record heat wave in the central San Joaquin Valley.

The California Independent System Operator warned Monday that the continuing high heat is “significantly increasing the likelihood of rotating outages unless consumers can reduce their energy.”

High-temperature records continued to fall, as Fresno hit a high of 108 Monday, breaking the record of 105 set in 1984 and tied in 2020. A 114-degree high Tuesday would smash the record of 106 set in 1923 and tied in 1988. And the forecast for Fresno on Wednesday is 110 degrees, which would break a record of 108 set in 1904. The forecast for Thursday is 108, matching a record set in 1904.

In Merced on Monday, a high of 108 topped a record of 106 set in 1904, and in Hanford, a 109-degree day broke a record of 104, also set in 1904.

Modesto Vasquez, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Hanford, said relief from the heat wave could arrive Saturday as Hurricane Kay moves toward the Baja California Peninsula, bringing a cooling cloud cover pushing temperatures down.

That would be the break California’s electrical system needs. Monday, Elliot Mainzer, president of the Independent System Operator, warned:

“This is an extraordinary heat event we are experiencing, and the efforts by consumers to lean in and reduce their energy use after 4 p.m. are absolutely essential.

“Over the last several days, we have seen a positive impact on lowering demand because of everyone’s help, but now we need a reduction in energy use that is two or three times greater than what we’ve seen so far as this historic heat wave continues to intensify.”

This story was originally published September 6, 2022 at 5:00 AM.