Northern California forecast and heat wave: What to know about fire danger, outages, how to stay cool
WE BEGIN WITH BREAKING NEWS THAT BREAKING NEWS. WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW TWO FIRES THAT ARE FORCING PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOMES. THANKS FOR JOINING US AT FOUR. I’M LISA GONZALES AND I’M TY STEELE. IT’S ALREADY BEEN A BUSY DAY. ONE FIRE IS IN BUTTE COUNTY. THE OTHER ONE IS IN EL DORADO COUNTY. LET’S START WITH EL DORADO COUNTY SOUTH OF PLACERVILLE. THIS ONE IS CALLED THE MOCCASIN FIRE BECAUSE IT STARTED ON MOCCASIN TRAIL. HERE’S A LOOK FROM AN ALERT CALIFORNIA WILDFIRE CAMERA. THE FIRE STARTED AROUND 315 THIS AFTERNOON. IT STARTED AS A STRUCTURE FIRE AND THEN IT SPREAD TO GRASS AND BRUSH. IT BURNED AT LEAST 15 ACRES WITH A MODERATE RATE OF SPEED. SO HERE’S A LIVE LOOK AT THE EVACUATIONS. RED IS AN ORDER, AS YOU CAN SEE RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR SCREEN, AND YELLOW THE AREA SURROUNDING THAT RED REGION IS A WARNING. NOW WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THIS FIRE IN BUTTE COUNTY THAT STARTED NEAR CHEROKEE AND THOMPSON FLAT CEMETERY ROADS NEAR OROVILLE EARLIER TODAY. TAKE A LOOK AT THIS TIME LAPSE VIDEO FROM AN ALERT CALIFORNIA CAMERON. YOU CAN SEE HOW MUCH SMOKE IT WAS PUTTING OFF IN A PRETTY BIG SMOKE PLUME. THIS ONE IS CALLED THE THOMPSON FIRE BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF WHERE IT STARTED. HERE’S ANOTHER VANTAGE POINT THAT SHOWS JUST THE PAST 30 MINUTES OR SO. HUNDREDS OF ACRES HAVE ALREADY BURNED. SO HERE’S A LOOK AT THE EVACUATION MAP. THE AREA IS HIGHLIGHTED IN ORANGE, ARE UNDER AN EVACUATION ORDER. THE AREAS IN YELLOW ARE UNDER AN EVACUATION WARNING. NOW LET’S BRING IN METEOROLOGIST HEATHER WALDMAN FOR A CLOSER LOOK AT WHERE THE FIRE IS AND THE CONDITIONS THAT WE’RE DEALING WITH. RIGHT NOW. YEAH, OF COURSE IT’S A HOT, DRY AND WINDY DAY, ESPECIALLY FOR THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY. HERE’S WHERE THE FIRE STARTED. THIS IS THE FEATHER RIVER. THE CITY OF OROVILLE IS TO THE SOUTH AND WEST OF WHERE THE FIRE BEGAN. IT STARTED ON THE NORTH EDGE OF THE FEATHER RIVER. HERE, AND I WANT TO TILT THE MAP HERE JUST SO YOU CAN GET AN IDEA FOR THE TERRAIN. A LOT OF STEEP CANYONS, A LOT OF GRASS, A LOT OF BRUSH. SO THIS FIRE INITIALLY BURNED UP. THIS CANYON, BUT THERE WAS A REPORT OF A SPOT FIRE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE FEATHER RIVER, WHERE THERE’S A LOT MORE BRUSH AND SOME RESIDENTIAL AREAS THERE AS WELL. BROADER VIEW SHOWS AGAIN, WHERE THE FIRE IS BURNING. THE WINDS HERE HAVE BEEN COMING OUT OF THE NORTHWEST, GUSTING TO 25MPH. THIS AREA INCLUDED IN OUR RED FLAG WARNING, ONE OF SEVERAL FIRES THAT WERE TRACKING HERE THIS AFTERNOON. YOU HEARD ABOUT THE MOCCASIN FIRE THERE IN EL DORADO COUNTY. ALSO WATCHING THE DENVERTON FIRE THAT’S IN SOLANO COUNTY. THAT IS BEING HELD RELATIVELY WELL UNDER CONTROL BY FIRE CREWS THERE. WE’RE ALSO WATCHING THE TOLL FIRE THAT IS IN NORTHWESTERN NAPA COUNTY. AND OF COURSE, THE RED FLAG WARNING CONTINUING AS WE HAVE THE DRY NORTH BREEZE THAT’S RELAXED, A LITTLE BIT IN THE AFTERNOON AS IT TYPICALLY DOES. BUT LATER TONIGHT INTO EARLY TOMORROW MORNING, IT WILL PICK BACK UP, ESPECIALLY FOR THE WEST SIDE OF THE VALLEY. WE’LL GET WIND GUSTS BETWEEN 30 AND 35MPH ALONG INTO THE WEST OF I-5 EAST SIDE OF THE VALLEY. THE WINDS NOT QUITE AS STRONG, BUT IN BUTTE COUNTY AROUND OROVILLE, THOUGH, THERE WILL BE SOME GUSTS OVERNIGHT TONIGHT, AROUND 20MPH. AS WE GO THROUGH WEDNESDAY, WE STILL HAVE THE NORTH FLOW, BUT THAT WIND IS GOING TO BACK OFF SO THAT RED FLAG WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE AT 8:00 TOMORROW EVENING. BUT KEEP IN MIND, WITH THE HOT, DRY AIR, WE HAVE CONTINUING THROUGH THIS WEEK, THE FIRE RISK WILL GO DOWN SOME AFTER TOMORROW, BUT IT WILL LINGER THROUGH THE REST OF THIS WEEK, ESPECIALLY WITH THE INDEPENDENCE DAY HOLIDAY. BACK TO YOU. THANK YOU. AND CREWS ARE RACING TO STOP A BRUSH FIRE IN NAPA COUNTY. THIS ONE HAS ALSO TRIGGERED SOME EVACUATIONS. THIS IS BURNING NORTHEAST OF CALISTOGA. CAL FIRE SAYS AT LEAST 50 ACRES HAVE BURNED 300 FIREFIGHTERS ARE BATTLING THESE FLAMES AND THEY ARE WORKING TO BUILD CONTAINMENT LINES FROM THE AIR. AND THE GROUND. AS YOU SEE THEM DROPPING RETARDANT THERE. ABOUT 100 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE EVACUATIONS, AND CREWS ARE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON A FIRE THAT BURNED GRASS NEAR THEIR TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE. THE FIRE STARTED JUST AFTER NOON. IT PUT UP A LOT OF SMOKE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR BEFORE IT LAID DOWN NEARLY TWO HOURS LATER, THE FIRE BURNED 470 ACRES. BECAUSE OF THE FIRE DANGER, PGE HAS SHUT OFF POWER TO PARTS OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. THIS IS AFFECTING HUNDREDS OF CUSTOMERS RIGHT NOW. AND HERE’S A LOOK AT THEIR OUTAGE MAP FROM PG AND E. YOU CAN SEE THOSE LITTLE PURPLE TRIANGLES THERE. THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT DO NOT HAVE POWER BECAUSE OF A PLANNED POWER SHUT OFF. THEY ARE SCATTERED AND IN PRETTY RURAL AREAS. PG AND E HAS SAID THE SHUTOFFS COULD IMPACT ABOUT 12,000 CUSTOMERS IN PARTS OF TEN COUNTIES BEFORE THEY TURN POWER BACK ON. THE WIND HAS TO CALM DOWN AND CREWS HAVE TO INSPECT THE EQUIPMENT FOR POSSIBLE DAMAGE. BUT KEEP IN MIND THOSE PEOPLE DON’T HAVE POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS HEAT WAVE, TEMPERATURES ARE SOARING TODAY, HOTTER THAN YESTERDAY. LIVE. LOOK HERE AT FAIRFIELD SACRAMENTO IN THE MIDDLE AND THAT’S STOCKTON ON YOUR RIGHT. LET’S BRING BACK IN METEOROLOGIST HEATHER WALDMAN FOR THE TEMPS RIGHT NOW. YEAH. AND THAT NORTH BREEZE CONTRIBUTING TO THE HOTTER CONDITIONS TODAY. IT DRIES THE AIR OUT. IT HELPS TO WARM THE TEMPERATURES EVEN FURTHER. SO THESE NUMBERS UP ANYWHERE FROM 5 TO 8 DEGREES COMPARED TO THIS TIME YESTERDAY 107 IN YUBA CITY, 106 IN FAIRFIELD WHERE BETWEEN 104 AND 105 FROM SACRAMENTO, DOWN THROUGH MODESTO AND EVEN INTO THE FOOTHILLS, APPROACHING THE TRIPLE DIGIT MARK HERE THIS AFTERNOON WITH PROBABLY ANOTHER HOUR OR SO OF WARMING TO GO, WE’LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THOSE TEMPERATURES. BUT AS WE GO THROUGH THE REST OF THIS WEEK, INCLUDING THE INDEPENDENCE DAY HOLIDAY ON THURSDAY. YEAH, THE HEAT’S NOT GOING ANYWHERE. HERE’S A SNAPSHOT OF TOMORROW FOR THE VALLEY TEMPERATURES LIKELY IN THE 80S, AS EARLY AS 7 A.M. 90S BY 9 A.M., AND EXPECT TO BE IN THE TRIPLE DIGITS FROM LATE MORNING. ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE LATE EVENING. THAT DOES INCLUDE A FEW HOURS WHERE THE TEMPERATURE WILL BE CLOSE TO 110 DEGREES. THAT WOULD BE RECORD HEAT FOR TOMORROW, AND THERE MAY BE MORE ON THE WAY. I’LL SHOW YOU THE EXTENDED FORECAST IN A FEW MINUTES. ALL RIGHT. HEATHER, THANKS AGAIN. AND WITH THIS STRING OF TRIPLE DIGITS, PEOPLE WILL BE BLASTING THEIR AIR CONDITIONING. BUT IF CERTAIN SIMPLE FIXES ARE NOT MADE, THAT CAN LEAD TO MORE ISSUES AND MORE COSTS. THAT’S RIGHT. KCRA 3’S ORKO MANNA IS LIVE FROM CAL OES ORKO THERE DOING A LOT THERE, INCLUDING MONITORING ELECTRICITY USAGE THIS WEEK. CORRECT? YEAH. LISA, BACK HERE AT THE CAL OES STATE OPERATIONS CENTER, THEY’RE WORKING WITH LOCAL AND STATE PARTNERS TO DO A VARIETY OF THINGS. AS YOU MENTIONED, INCLUDING SEEING HOW ELECTRICITY USAGE IS IMPACTING THE GRID. YOU CAN SEE SOME MAPS AND SOME DATA POINTS UP ON THIS WALL HERE ON THESE SCREENS. AGAIN HERE AT THE CAL OES STATE OPERATIONS CENTER. AND WE KNOW THAT THERE’S MORE PRESSURE ON THE GRID THIS WEEK BECAUSE OF THE HEAT WAVE. AND A LOT OF THAT USAGE IS BECAUSE OF AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS. WE SPOKE WITH WITH RPM, HVAC SERVICE, A FAMILY OWNED COMPANY OUT OF ROSEVILLE. THEY TELL US THEY’RE SEEING A HUGE SPIKE IN DEMAND THIS WEEK. I’M TOLD THEY’VE GOTTEN 60 CALLS WITHIN THE LAST 24 HOURS, AND THEY EXPECT TO GET EVEN MORE AS THE HEAT WAVE GOES ON. THEIR CREWS ARE WORKING DAY AND NIGHT TO MEET THE DEMAND, BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE ACROSS THE REGION ARE FINALLY TURNING ON THEIR AIR CONDITIONING. IN THE WAKE OF THESE TRIPLE DIGITS AND NOTICING THAT THINGS ARE NOT WORKING, OWNER BOB FORD SAYS THE MOST SIMPLE THING PEOPLE CAN DO IS CHANGE, AND CLEAN YOUR AIR FILTERS. IF YOU DON’T, THAT CAN LEAD TO MORE ISSUES WITH YOUR AC AND MORE COSTS. THE FILTER WHEN WHEN DIRTY WHEN IT NEEDS REPLACE, RESTRICTS AIRFLOW IN AIRFLOW IS THE IS THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF OF AN AIR CONDITIONER MALFUNCTIONING WHEN YOU’RE NOT MOVING AIR, YOU’RE NOT REMOVING HEAT. YEAH, AND BECAUSE OF THE HIGH DEMAND RIGHT NOW, IF YOU CALL DIFFERENT AC AND HVAC COMPANIES, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO WAIT A LITTLE BIT TO GET YOUR AC FIXED OR TO REPLACE YOUR AC HAVING NO COOL AIR RIGHT NOW IS DEFINITELY NOT A SITUATION YOU WANT TO BE IN, ESPECIALLY THIS WEEK WITH THE TRIPLE DIGITS THAT WE’RE SEEING. BUT CAL OES SAYS THEY’RE ALSO WORKING WITH, AGAIN, THEIR PARTNERS TO COME UP WITH DIFFERENT COOLING STATIONS ACROSS THE REGION TO HELP FOLKS OUT. IF THAT’S THE CASE, REPORTING LIVE IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY, ORKO MANNA KCRA THREE NEWS. SO ORKO MANNA A BIG QUESTION THAT WE’RE GETTING INTO THE NEWSROOM IS WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO TO SAVE MONEY WHEN THEY’RE USING THEIR AIR CONDITIONER DURING A TIME LIKE THIS? DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS? YEAH. SO I SPOKE TO SMUD AND THEY SAY A GOOD NUMBER THAT THEY’RE RECOMMENDING IS SETTING YOUR THERMOSTAT TO 78 DEGREES. THAT’S A GOOD MIDDLE GROUND TO STAY COMFORTABLE. BUT ALSO TO SAVE MONEY. THEY ALSO SHARED OTHER WAYS THAT YOU CAN SAVE ON YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL DURING THESE TRIPLE DIGITS. I’LL HAVE MORE ON THAT COMING UP TONIGHT AT SIX. SOUNDS GOOD. WE’LL SEE YOU AT SIX. ORKO. THANK YOU. WE’VE GOT MUCH MORE INFORMATION ON THE FORECAST. THE COOLING CENTERS, POWER OUTAGES, HEALTH DANGERS, ALL OF IT POSTED IN ONE PLACE ONLINE. EASY FOR YOU TO FIND. JUST USE THE KCRA THREE APP OR GO TO KCRA.COM. IF YOU SCAN THE QR COD
Northern California forecast and heat wave: What to know about fire danger, outages, how to stay cool
Updated: 4:22 PM PDT Jul 2, 2024
Tuesday not only continues the prolonged heat wave in Northern California, but gusty north winds have increased the wildfire risk.KCRA 3 called Tuesday an Alert Day because of both the dangerous heat that could lead to health risks and the high fire risk. Here is what to know about the day’s developments. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. has warned thousands of its customers that it could shut off power in areas where its equipment could pose a fire hazard. Some customers have seen outages. As of Tuesday afternoon, several vegetation fires were burning across the region: Evacuations were ordered in parts of Napa County near Calistoga for the Toll Fire, near Oroville in Butte County for the Thompson Fire, and south of Placerville for the Moccasin Fire burning in El Dorado County. Crews stropped forward progress for the Denverton Fire burning near Travis Air Force Base in Solano County.Sacramento Regional Transit said days of extreme heat can have a significant strain on light rail infrastructure and trains will operate at reduced speed.What’s the weather outlook?Meteorologist Heather Waldman said temperatures in the Sacramento Valley reached 100 degrees around 1 p.m. and could climb to 107-109 degrees. The record temperature for this time of year is 109 degrees — established in 2023.Wind gusts of 35 mph have been recorded on the west side of the Valley. The evening will be very warm with Valley temperatures staying in the mid-70s. The Foothills will be closer to 80 degrees ahead of sunrise. An excessive heat warning has been extended through next Tuesday. Expect temperatures of 100 degrees or more for the rest of the week from noon until 7 or 8 p.m. KCRA 3’s weather team is calling for Alert Days through Sunday and Impact Days on Monday and Tuesday. Read more from Tamara Berg about why this heat wave is happening What to know about the red flag warning. The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning that will be in effect through 8 p.m. on Wednesday. The agency issues those warnings when conditions make it likely for a wildfire to burn and spread.Read more about why north winds are dangerous during wildfire seasons here See our Fire Threat Index below. | MORE | A 2024 guide for how to prepare for wildfires in CaliforniaHere are more resources for the heat waveFind a list of cooling centers here.Here is where to find public pools to cool off.Want to visit a water park? Here’s a list of locations.Here’s how to know the differences between sunburns, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heatstroke.How to keep your pets safe amid hot summer temperaturesHere are key websites that are important for all Californians during wildfire season.Cal Fire wildfire incidents: Cal Fire tracks its wildfire incidents here. You can sign up to receive text messages for Cal Fire updates on wildfires happening near your ZIP code here.Wildfires on federal land: Federal wildfire incidents are tracked here.Preparing for power outages: Ready.gov explains how to prepare for a power outage and what to do when returning from one here. Here is how to track and report PG&E power outages.Keeping informed when you’ve lost power and cellphone service: How to find a National Weather Service radio station near you.Be prepared for road closures: Download Caltrans’ QuickMap app or check the latest QuickMap road conditions here.REAL-TIME TRAFFIC MAPClick here to see our interactive traffic map.TRACK INTERACTIVE, DOPPLER RADARClick here to see our interactive radar.DOWNLOAD OUR APP FOR THE LATESTHere is where you can download our app.Follow our KCRA weather team on social mediaMeteorologist Tamara Berg on Facebook and X.Meteorologist Dirk Verdoorn on FacebookMeteorologist/Climate Reporter Heather Waldman on Facebook and X.Meteorologist Kelly Curran on X.Watch our forecasts on TV or onlineHere’s where to find our latest video forecast. You can also watch a livestream of our latest newscast here. The banner on our website turns red when we’re live.We’re also streaming on the Very Local app for Roku, Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV.
Tuesday not only continues the prolonged heat wave in Northern California, but gusty north winds have increased the wildfire risk.
KCRA 3 called Tuesday an Alert Day because of both the dangerous heat that could lead to health risks and the high fire risk.
Here is what to know about the day’s developments.
As of Tuesday afternoon, several vegetation fires were burning across the region:
Sacramento Regional Transit said days of extreme heat can have a significant strain on light rail infrastructure and trains will operate at reduced speed.
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
What’s the weather outlook?
Meteorologist Heather Waldman said temperatures in the Sacramento Valley reached 100 degrees around 1 p.m. and could climb to 107-109 degrees. The record temperature for this time of year is 109 degrees — established in 2023.
Wind gusts of 35 mph have been recorded on the west side of the Valley.
The evening will be very warm with Valley temperatures staying in the mid-70s. The Foothills will be closer to 80 degrees ahead of sunrise.
An excessive heat warning has been extended through next Tuesday. Expect temperatures of 100 degrees or more for the rest of the week from noon until 7 or 8 p.m.
KCRA 3’s weather team is calling for Alert Days through Sunday and Impact Days on Monday and Tuesday.
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
What to know about the red flag warning.
The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning that will be in effect through 8 p.m. on Wednesday. The agency issues those warnings when conditions make it likely for a wildfire to burn and spread.
See our Fire Threat Index below.
| MORE | A 2024 guide for how to prepare for wildfires in California
Here are more resources for the heat wave
Here are key websites that are important for all Californians during wildfire season.
REAL-TIME TRAFFIC MAP
Click here to see our interactive traffic map.
TRACK INTERACTIVE, DOPPLER RADAR
Click here to see our interactive radar.
DOWNLOAD OUR APP FOR THE LATEST
Here is where you can download our app.
Follow our KCRA weather team on social media
- Meteorologist Tamara Berg on Facebook and X.
- Meteorologist Dirk Verdoorn on Facebook
- Meteorologist/Climate Reporter Heather Waldman on Facebook and X.
- Meteorologist Kelly Curran on X.
Watch our forecasts on TV or online
Here’s where to find our latest video forecast. You can also watch a livestream of our latest newscast here. The banner on our website turns red when we’re live.
We’re also streaming on the Very Local app for Roku, Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV.