San Francisco hotter than Vegas as it shatters high temp record amid extreme heat wave

By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

Record high temperatures have been shattered in the West to start this week, and more records will fall along portions of the Pacific coast into the middle of this week.

San Francisco was among the cities to shatter a record high the past couple of days as the temperature throttled to 92 F on Sunday and up to the triple-digit mark Monday.

"Temperatures in San Francisco reached 100 F on Monday, which was 3 degrees higher than the maximum temperature at Las Vegas and equaled the high at Sacramento, California," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski. Monday's high beat the old daily record of 94 set back in 1994.

Coastal Central California's highs are typically within a few degrees of 70 F due to the cooling influence of sea and bay breezes off of the cool Pacific water.

Many locations in California surpassed old record highs set 25 years ago in 1994, or even earlier. Record highs were set both Sunday and Monday in San Bernardino and Ontario, California, to name a few. 

San Bernardino, California, sizzled at 102 and 104 F on Sunday and Monday, respectively, while the mercury registered 105 and 107 in Ontario, California, on Sunday and Monday, respectively.

Monterey, California, which lies along the cooler waters of the Monterey Peninsula, recorded a record high of 95 on Monday, breaking the old record of 91 set back in 1994.

A northward bulge in the jet stream, combined with an area of high pressure has stopped the June gloom in its tracks.

The pattern has created an offshore flow of dry air and pretty much stopped the traditional marine flow that creates morning low clouds and a cool afternoon sea breeze along the West coast.

When the air descends from the nearby mountains, it becomes compressed and heats up. The pattern is much more common during the late summer and autumn.

The combination of a slight offshore breeze and intense sunshine this time of the year has pushed temperatures to record high levels along the coast.

Residents are urged to take safety precautions such as drinking plenty of water and staying out of heat and in air conditioning as much as possible as more record highs are projected to fall on Tuesday.

The combination of heat and light winds can also cause a buildup of pollutants around the major cities and pose risks to those with respiratory ailments, according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Kyle Elliott.

The core of the heat will expand into the northwestern United States into Wednesday.

In Portland, Oregon, highs in the middle to upper 90s are forecast. Respectively, on Tuesday and Wednesday, the records of 95 set in 1941 and 93 set in 2002 will be challenged.

Similarly, in Seattle, highs in the 80s will challenge records of 84 set in 1989 and 85 set in 1999 on Tuesday and Wednesday.

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Other cities in the Northwest that are poised to set new marks in the record books include Eugene, Medford, The Dalles, Oregon; and Olympia, Yakima, Spokane, Washington.

As the heat bubbles northward into midweek, temperatures are forecast to throttle back a bit over much of California.

Highs in Riverside, California, are projected to trend from the low 100s on Tuesday to the middle 90s on Wednesday and the middle 80s on Thursday and Friday.

In San Francisco, after a high within a few degrees of 90 on Tuesday, highs are forecast to be in the middle 70s on Wednesday and near 70, which is close to average on Thursday.

Coastal Southern California has been spared the core of the heat with some interaction of the marine flow helping to moderate temperatures.

The marine flow will become more prominent during the second half of this week in California in general. The typical June pattern will be in play at Pebble Beach Golf Links, California, this weekend.

Meanwhile, the combination of low humidity, sunshine, warmth and drying vegetation will continue to push the risk of wildfire ignition and spread in the coming days and weeks.

Weather conditions and tremendous vegetative growth this spring following prolific precipitation this past winter are promoting an early fire season.

Los Angeles County firemen fight a brush fire burning close to Six Flags Magic Mountain and Hurricane Harbor amusement park in Santa Clarita, Calif., Sunday, June 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Rick McClure)

People are urged to use caution when operating power equipment and working with open flames. Never toss burning cigarettes outside of a vehicle. Avoid parking vehicles on brush as the exhaust system is hot enough to start a fire.

This past weekend, a wildfire threatened Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park in Southern California. Several other small wildfires occurred in California on Monday, including at least two in the Bay Area of Central California, according to the Associated Press.

"An uptick in thunderstorms across the interior higher elevations during the latter part of the week can elevate the risk of lightning-induced wildfires," Elliott said.

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Farther north, abnormally dry to severe drought conditions have developed in part of the Northwest, according to the United States Drought Monitor.

On June 3, 2019, a blaze dubbed the 243 Command Fire began in central Washington, northeast of Yakima. The short grass and brush fire, now 85% contained, has consumed more than 20,000 acres.

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