The San Francisco Bay Area will experience unusually high temperatures, reaching into the 90s on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. Some areas might even approach 100 degrees, marking a brief stretch of intense summerlike heat.
San Francisco is expected to hit 82 degrees, which is 16 degrees higher than the historical average for the day. The region’s typical weather divide will persist, with coastal areas remaining cooler in the 60s and 70s. Meanwhile, inland valleys are predicted to see temperatures rise into the 90s. Some elevated areas might reach near triple digits, stated Rachel Kennedy, a meteorologist from the Weather Service’s Bay Area office.
A red flag warning is in place for mountain areas north of the Bay and some parts of the East Bay Hills from 11 p.m. Wednesday until 9 a.m. Thursday. This warning indicates that dry fuel and specific weather conditions could facilitate the rapid ignition and spread of wildfires. In response, Pacific Gas & Electric has proactively cut power to certain homes and businesses in areas where fire risk is high.
The region is anticipated to experience wind gusts up to 45 miles per hour, with some areas possibly exceeding 60 miles per hour, Ms. Kennedy mentioned.
Fire officials are urging residents to exercise caution until Sunday, when cooler air is expected to arrive, bringing San Francisco’s temperature down to a sunny 71 degrees.
In East Bay parks, restrictions under elevated fire conditions include prohibitions on campfires, barbecues, welding, and off-road driving. The primary concern is human activity rather than natural events such as lightning. Common actions like a mower blade striking a rock or vehicle-induced sparks can precipitate wildfires, explained Khari Helae, assistant fire chief for the East Bay Regional Park District.
Mr. Helae emphasized, “Ninety percent of fires are human-caused, so if we reduce the human factor, we effectively eliminate 90 percent of the problem.”
Mark Walker, a Times reporter, covers breaking news and culture.