Isn’t it spring? Bay Area heat wave may push temperatures near record territory this week

During that period, warm offshore winds and sunny skies will help drive temperatures up to anywhere from 20 degrees to 30 degrees above average, Gass said.

“We generally are encouraging folks to try to remain in the shade if outdoors, take frequent breaks from the heat, if you have access to air conditioning, use it, and never leave pets, children or the elderly in unattended vehicles,” Gass said.

Temperatures inland are expected to peak in the low to mid-90s, with 70s and 80s along the coast.

In San Mateo County, temperatures could rise into the 90s in inland areas by Wednesday, with Thursday and Friday seeing the warmest conditions, National Weather Service meteorologist Brayden Murdoch said.

In higher-elevation areas, Murdoch warned that temperatures could continue to hover around the 70s even during the night, which was part of the reason for the heat advisory.

“That’s something we consider — it’s not just ‘OK, it’s hot,’ but are people going to have a good way to escape the heat?” he said.

For those directly adjacent to the coast, the weather should remain more temperate, staying in the 60s, but even those a half-mile away from the beach should prepare for temperatures into the 70s, Murdoch said.

Inland areas will feel the heat

The southern Salinas Valley and Central Coast are expected to endure some of the hottest temperatures and Pinnacles National Park might even top out at 100 degrees.

Wednesday through Friday “look nearly identical” in terms of heat, according to the weather service.

While people may be tempted to head to the coast to escape the heat, temperatures at many oceanside areas will also be unseasonably warm, with the hottest places, like Santa Cruz, expected to see the low 90s.

Also, beachgoers are being cautioned that ocean water temperatures will remain frigid and winterlike, prompting a real danger of “cold water shock,” Gass said.

“I would not recommend getting into the ocean,” he said.

Along with the high temperatures and warm breezes comes an extremely early-season wildfire risk, although that should be mitigated somewhat by the fact that vegetation is still green and less likely to burn.

The heat wave should begin to slowly subside starting Saturday through Monday, with a roughly five degree daily drop in temperatures through the early part of next week.

The National Weather Service isn’t predicting any major atmospheric rivers or rainstorms for the upcoming months, although it’s possible that light rain or drizzle may occur along the coast in the following week or that the Bay Area could experience minor showers in April and May, Murdoch said. Although it hasn’t been the area’s best rainy season, rainfall averages have been hovering around normal, he said.