Valley to heat up next several days

While according to the calendar this is autumn, the thermometer will look more like summer the next few days.

The National Weather Service in Hanford reported that a strong upper level high pressure area building California this weekend will push temperatures into the upper-90s to mid-100s.

The weather service said temperatures could exceed records early next week. The predicted highs for Porterville are upper 90s Sunday and Monday, then 100 on Tuesday.

The real heat, fortunately will not start until Sunday. Today’s high is a predicted 92 degrees.
Nighttime lows will remain in the low-60s.

Meteorologist Carlos Molina said normal daytime temperatures for the first week of October are in the 80s. He said the heat wave next week, while not common, does happen.

He also said it should remain warm at least into the following weekend when the high pressure begins to break down. He predicated once that happens, residents will begin to see temperatures in the 80s.

The unusual late-season high temperatures and stagnant atmospheric conditions, combined with vehicle emissions, have prompted local air officials to declare the second Air Alert of the year, Saturday through Wednesday, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District reported late Friday.

Residents are being asked to refrain from vehicle idling, avoiding drive-through services and to carpool when possible.

Going to the mountains to escape the heat may not even be possible the next few days.

Temperatures are expected in the mid-90s at 4,000 fee and the 70s at 8,000 feet.