Sacramento’s July heat averaged 101 degrees

Sacramento’s forecast high for Saturday (July 27): 82 degrees. That’s 20 degrees cooler than last weekend – and most of this month.

So far, July is trending to be one of the hottest months on record – not just in Sacramento, but worldwide. Monday (July 22) went down as the hottest day in recorded human history, European climatologists reported this week.https://apnews.com/article/hottest-day-ever-climate-change-weather-heat-extreme-global-warming-8e2b0b7fa0360ecb931ca333a832c694

Sacramento has been doing its part. Through July 25, Sacramento highs have averaged 101 degrees – that’s more than eight degrees above normal (92.6) for July. Helping hold in that heat were unusually warm nights; lows averaged 65 degrees, about six degrees above normal.

This intense heat dried vegetation to a crisp, especially grasses; that’s created high fire danger throughout Northern California. With abundant fuel, the Park Fire in Butte County doubled in size in less than 24 hours, growing to more than 164,000 acres – an area larger than the city of Chicago.

Smoke from that blaze is drifting across the valley and foothills, dropping ash and polluting air. That can trigger breathing problems for people with sensitivities as well as burn eyes.

All this heat and smoke can have major effects on our summer gardens, too. Expect to see some ozone damage to foliage. Smoky skies tend to cut down on bee activity, too. Tomatoes and grapes may develop smoke taint to their flavor. Make sure to wash fruit and vegetables well before eating; soot and ash can cling to their skin or leaves.

With such high fire danger, just a spark can start a catastrophe, warns the weather service. Do not use power equipment outdoors; a lawn mower or edger hitting a rock may be all it takes to cause a blaze. Likewise, don’t park vehicles on dry grass; igniting an engine also can ignite a grass fire.

Cooler conditions starting Saturday will help relieve that fire danger. In fact, the weather service predicts no more triple-digit temperatures for the rest of July – and August starts Thursday.

For more weather updates: https://www.weather.gov/sto/.