As a relentless heat wave scorches Northern California, communities are grappling with record-breaking temperatures that have left many feeling the sweltering effects of climate change. Over the weekend, the Bay Area and Sacramento Valley experienced some of the hottest temperatures in decades, prompting urgent warnings from the National Weather Service (NWS).
The Blistering Heat
This unyielding heat event, which peaked on Sunday, brought San Rafael to a staggering 107 degrees—making it the hottest spot in the Bay Area. Comparatively, the previous record of 95 degrees was set just last year. Nearby Kentfield followed suit with a blistering 102 degrees, eclipsing its 1930 record of 97 degrees. Meanwhile, in Sonoma County, Santa Rosa matched a historic high of 102 degrees that dates back nearly a century.
Downtown San Francisco also felt the burn, hitting 97 degrees and surpassing the 1992 record of 94 degrees. The airport registered a scorching 98 degrees, outpacing 2023’s record of 92. In the South Bay, Redwood City reached 102 degrees, breaking its 1987 record, while San Jose hit 103 degrees, surpassing its previous high of 95 from earlier this year.