If you're planning to be outdoors for the upcoming Labor Day weekend, be prepared for heat.
California is facing a prolonged late-summer heatwave this week. Temperatures will be in the upper 90s to just over 100 degrees for the next four days in the Sacramento region, with a high of 108 forecasted on Saturday and 111 on Sunday.
Katrina Hand, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sacramento, said these temperatures are unusual for this time of year.
"The normals for the Sacramento area for this time of year are the low 90s,” Hand said. “So we're looking at 15 to 20 degrees above normal over that Saturday, Sunday, Monday time-frame.”
According to Hand, the heat wave may be record breaking. Widespread triple-digit temperatures will affect most of the state through Labor Day weekend. The scorching conditions are being caused by high pressure pushing into the state and making it difficult for onshore flow of marine air.
Temperatures are expected to top 100 degrees in many valley and mountain locations, as well. Forecasters are warning this weather poses an increased health risk.
"What that means is that heat like this is rare and can be deadly and pretty much the entire population, over the weekend, is at risk for heat-related illnesses," Hand said.
The hot temperatures will also contribute to elevated fire weather conditions since dry fuels and very low humidity could lead to easier fire starts.
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