It’s even hot in the shade in Santa Barbara today, and it will just get hotter over the rest of the week, the National Weather Service (NWS) portends. Currently, an extreme heat advisory for most of Santa Barbara County warns of heat exhaustion and the fire chiefs have issued a Red Flag Warning for critical fire weather conditions.
Tuesday through Thursday, daytime temperatures are forecast to rise into the 90s in coastal and 100s for inland areas. Along the coast, the heat will remain in the 70s overnight as the warm waters offshore are keeping the air warmer, which in turn draws in more moisture. This resulting the humidity just adds to the feeling of sweaty heat, explained Carol Ciliberti, a meteorologist with the NWS in Oxnard.
Conversely, the Sundowners expected later in the week will bring drier air, as winds blow from the north over the Santa Ynez range, developing heat as they rush down from the ridges — especially for Gaviota, Refugio, and San Marcos passes. Maximum temperatures could reach into the low 100s during sundowners, which could persist through Saturday…