California, 2017

Excessive Heat in California, September 1, 2017

September 1, 2017 · NWS MTR · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

A strong upper level ridge brought widespread hot temperatures to the Bay Area leading up to and through Labor Day Weekend. Numerous daily and monthly records were broken as well as a few all time record max temperatures.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
6
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS MTR wrote it up.

A strong upper level ridge brought widespread hot temperatures to the Bay Area leading up to and through Labor Day Weekend. Numerous daily and monthly records were broken as well as a few all time record max temperatures. Six Bay Area residents died as a result of the heat.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS San Francisco Bay Area, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 1, 12:45 PM PST, 15 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 1, 12:45 PM PST, 15 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Francisco Bay Area
145 PM PDT Fri Sep 1 2017

.SYNOPSIS...Oppressive heat is forecast across the interior and
higher elevations today through Saturday as strong high pressure
builds over the region. In addition, very warm temperatures will
spread to the coast as onshore flow weakens. A region-wide cool
down is forecast to begin on Sunday, especially near the coast,
but very warm to hot conditions will continue over inland areas
through early next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...as of 1:43 PM PDT Friday...Temperatures continue to
climb across the San Francisco Bay Area and central coast this
afternoon. Compared to this time 24 hours ago, many locations are
running an incredible 10 and 20 degrees warmer. Triple digits
popped up as early as 11 am in the Santa Cruz Mountains and some
interior areas of Monterey County. At 11:20 am, Salinas Airport
(KSNS) broke their daily record high which was previously 96
degrees set in 1952. As of 12:20, the temperature continued to
rise to 104 degrees. For reference, the all-time record high at
Salinas Airport is 105 degrees set in October 5, 1971 with a
period of record dating back to 1959. Downtown San Francisco
reported 98 degrees at 1:43 pm PDT, already breaking the September
1 record of 90 degrees set back in 1950. For additional
information on record high temperatures for various locations in
the region, please refer to the climate section. Record Event
Reports will be issued in the evening as they are compiled.

More records will be broken as the afternoon continues as a large
upper level ridge builds over northern California. Expect
temperatures to surpass the 80s along the coast, reach the
mid/upper 90s for much of Downtown San Francisco, and rocket past
the 100 degree mark for inland areas. The hottest temperatures are
currently forecast to be near Livermore where guidance is
suggesting extraordinarily oppressive conditions. European MOS
guidance is suggesting a high temperature of 115 degrees in
Livermore which -- if verifies -- would tie the city's all-time
record high set back on September 3, 1950. Widespread high to very
high heat risks are anticipated throughout the region for the
next few days as temperatures remain well above normal. The entire
County Warning Area from Sonoma County south through Monterey
County has been upgraded to an Excessive Heat Warning through at
least 9 pm Saturday for the coast, and through Monday afternoon
for interior areas. Even the typical cool coastal beaches will be
subjected to much warmer than normal temperatures as the usual
onshore flow saving grace has ceased. Take the necessary
precautions to beat the heat: drink plenty of fluids and refrain
from alcohol and caffeine, limit outdoor activities during the
hottest time of the day, wear light-colored clothing, and wear a
hat. If you don't have air conditioning, consider going to a
community cooling center, a shopping center/mall, a library, or
movie theater. Never ever leave pets, children, or adults alone in
a parked vehicle. Heat -- on average -- has killed more people
than any other weather-related hazard in the United States. Do
not underestimate the heat.

Expect onshore flow to resume by Sunday with relief returning for
areas near the coast. Inland areas will remain hot, but not as
hot as today and Saturday. Additionally, moisture associated with
Tropical Storm Lidia will approach parts of the central California
coast late Sunday and overnight into Monday. Confidence still
isn't high on the exact track of the cyclone and its associated
moisture, but nonetheless have increased POPs as well as
introduced the slight chance of thunder to southern Monterey
County. Further cooling is anticpated by the middle of next week,
but the forecast calls for temperatures to remain above seasonal
normals.

Again, we cannot emphasize enough the hazards that millions across
the area (and tens of millions across the State of California)
will be subjected to. Please stay safe, stay hydrated, and beat
the heat.

&&

.AVIATION...As of 10:18 AM PDT Friday...VFR will continue through
the forecast period, with strong upper-level high pressure aloft.
This will inhibit marine layer and low clouds from developing.
Only concern will be reduced visibilities due to smoke from fires
in Northern California and the Sierra Mountains. Smoke has been
drifting over all terminals and dropping VIS below 6SM at some
Bay Area terminals at times. Taf reflects reduced VIS at terminals
that are currently being affected. This will continued to be
monitored as the day progresses. Generally light onshore winds
this afternoon, below 15 kt, except at KSFO. High forecast
confidence.

Vicinity of KSFO...VFR through the forecast period. Periods of
smoke may reduce VIS below 6SM at times. Winds becoming westerly
to around 15-18 KT after 22Z. High confidence.

SFO Bridge Approach...Similar to KSFO.

Monterey Bay Terminals...VFR through the period. Light winds
becoming west to northwest after 19Z. High confidence.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...As of 9:40 PM PDT Thursday...Strong high pressure
will continue to build over the district through Friday,
producing very hot and dry conditions inland through the weekend.
The hottest days are expected to be Friday and Saturday when
widespread highs of over 100 are expected inland and even coastal
areas will warm into the 80s to mid 90s. Daytime relatively
humidity values will be as low as the single digits and teens
during this heat event. Also, nighttime humidity recoveries in the
hills during this period of time will be very poor with relative
humidity values not expected to rise above 30 percent for most
elevations above 1000 feet. In addition, temperatures in the hills
will remain warm overnight, with lows expected in the 70s and
80s. Finally, moderate northeast winds are expected in the hills
tonight and then become moderate and gusty northwesterly winds by
Friday afternoon. These weather factors will result in the
potential for rapid fire spread, especially in the hills. A Red
Flag Warning is in effect from this evening through early Saturday
morning for elevations above 1000 feet in the North and East Bay
Hills, the Santa Cruz Mountains, the Diablo Range, the Santa Lucia
Range and the interior mountains of Monterey and San Benito
Counties.

Although temperatures are expected to moderate Sunday and Monday,
a prolonged period of very warm to hot weather will likely last
well into next week, especially for inland areas.

Also, will need to be cognizant of the possibility of showers and
thunderstorms starting late in the weekend and continuing into
next week as subtropical moisture increases across the district
from the southeast.

&&

.CLIMATE...The following is a list of daily record high
temperatures for the next 3 days at the selected cities.

San Francisco Bay Area....Fri Sep 1...Sat Sep 2...Sun Sep 3
..........................Temp/Year...Temp/Year...Temp/Year
...............Kentfield   103/1955    104/1955    104/1950
..............San Rafael   103/1955    101/1955    104/1950
....................Napa   107/1955    109/1955    105/1950
......San Francisco Dtwn    90/1952     94/1991     92/1961
...San Francisco Airport    94/1955     93/1950     93/1961
.........Oakland Airport    99/1952     97/1950     95/1961
................Richmond    93/1955     89/2008     89/2004
...............Livermore   109/1952    111/1952    115/1950
...........Moffett Field    93/2002     93/2002     93/1961
................San Jose   101/1950    102/1950     99/1950
..................Gilroy   102/1976    104/2002    104/2002
Monterey Bay Area.......
.................Salinas    91/2010     90/2008     94/1961
.........Salinas Airport    96/1952     90/2008     94/1961
...............King City   108/1955    113/1955    103/1955

The following is a list of All-time record high temperatures for
the selected cities. Note the period of record for each individual
site will vary from one to the other.

San Francisco Bay Area....All-Time Record High
..........................Temp  Date
...............Kentfield   112  Jul 11 1913
..............San Rafael   110  Jun 15 1961
....................Napa   113  Jun 14 1961
......San Francisco Dtwn   103  Jun 14 2000
...San Francisco Airport   103  Sep 14 1971
.........Oakland Airport   104  Jun 14 1961
................Richmond   107  Sep 15 1971
...............Livermore   115  Sep 03 1950
...........Moffett Field   106  Jun 14 2000
................San Jose   109  Jun 14 2000
..................Gilroy   115  Jun 15 1972
Monterey Bay Area.......
.................Salinas   106  Sep 14 1971
.........Salinas Airport   105  Oct 05 1987
...............King City   113  Sep 02 1955

&&

.MARINE...as of 01:18 PM PDT Friday...Look for light to moderate
northerly winds through the day, occasionally breezy along the
immediate coast. Light seas are  forecast to persist through the
period.

&&

.MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
     .Tngt...Excessive Heat Warning...CAZ506>508-510>513-516>518-528
             Excessive Heat Warning...CAZ006-505-509-529-530

&&

PUBLIC FORECAST: Rowe
AVIATION: BAM
MARINE: BAM
CLIMATE: Rowe/Dykema/BAM
FIRE WEATHER: Dykema

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The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 excessive heat. Local standard time, as filed.

Excessive Heat, San Francisco

When
September 1, 1:00 PM PST to 4:00 PM PST
Where
San Francisco forecast zone
Deaths
3 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by
Newspaper
Coordinates
37.778, -122.442 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Three San Francisco residents died over the weekend as a result of the heat.

Http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Death-toll-from-Bay-Area-heat-wave-hits-6-12180514.php.|Http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-six-deaths-heat-wave-bay-area-20170908-story.html.

Excessive Heat, San Francisco Peninsula Coast

When
September 1, 1:00 PM PST to 4:00 PM PST
Where
San Francisco Peninsula Coast forecast zone
Deaths
3 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by
Newspaper
Coordinates
37.229, -122.183 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Three San Mateo county residents died over the weekend as a result of the heat.

Http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-six-deaths-heat-wave-bay-area-20170908-story.html.|Http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Death-toll-from-Bay-Area-heat-wave-hits-6-12180514.php.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

EventDateAgeSexWhereKind
Excessive Heat, San Francisco2017-09-01UnknownDirect
Excessive Heat, San Francisco2017-09-01UnknownDirect
Excessive Heat, San Francisco2017-09-01UnknownDirect
Excessive Heat, San Francisco Peninsula Coast2017-09-0190MaleUnknownDirect
Excessive Heat, San Francisco Peninsula Coast2017-09-0195FemaleUnknownDirect
Excessive Heat, San Francisco Peninsula Coast2017-09-0179MaleUnknownDirect

What these are

Excessive Heat
Heat at or above the local excessive heat warning criteria, or heat that caused deaths.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in California in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in California, September 2017

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 717956, 717958.