US Forest Service (USDA FS), Sequoia National Forest

Contact:  Fire Information:  www.inciweb.org or 760-376-3781 Ext. 699

Hot weather to return to the Central California Interior - 7/4/08

An upper level ridge of high pressure will bring unseasonably hot temperatures to the Central California interior next week.

High temperatures in the San Joaquin Valley will be around 100 degrees Sunday...then warm another 3 to 5 degrees Monday and again Tuesday.

High temperatures Tuesday in the central and southern San Joaquin Valley...the lower foothills of the Southern Sierra Nevada...and the deserts of kern county will be in the 105 to 110 degree range in the afternoon and early evening...and even Yosemite Valley could see 100 degrees.

Little change in temperatures is expected Wednesday or Thursday. The air will be very dry...and heat indexes will be a few degrees cooler than the air temperature. However...heat indexes in most valley and desert locations will be in the 100 to 105 degree range for a few hours each afternoon Tuesday through Thursday... with the warmest locations in the foothills having heat indexes around 100. This may aggravate some health conditions... especially for children...the elderly or other sensitive groups.

Here are some tips to help you cope with the coming heat.

• Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun. When possible...stay in the shade or an air conditioned room. Wear loose fitting... light colored clothes. Drink plenty of non alcoholic fluids.
• Never leave children or pets in a vehicle... even for short periods of time. Temperatures inside vehicles can climb rapidly to life threatening levels...even with windows partially open.
• Periodically check on children and the elderly. Also...remember that animals will be affected by the heat. Make sure that pets and farm animals have plenty of water and access to shade.

If you are planning to travel into the Southern Sierra Nevada for relief from the heat...remember that the increased flow in mountain rivers... streams and creeks has its own hazards. Even though a stream or river looks cool and inviting...the water is actually very cold and may be dangerously fast. Outdoor enthusiasts are advised to use extreme caution near streams and rivers. If you are planning on camping... remember that the highest water levels occur at night...usually within an hour or two either side of midnight.

A campground may look dry and safe in the late afternoon...but can take on water at night.

If you are rafting or boating on rivers or streams... always wear life jackets or vests...and keep other flotation gear handy. Be alert for the dangers of hypothermia if you or others fall into the water... get to safety as quickly as possible.

Stay tuned to NOAA weather radio...or your favorite news source...for updates on this situation.