Warning: East Bay temperatures may hit 107 degrees

The heat is on once again, as the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued an urgent heat advisory for much of the Bay Area, warning that potentially dangerous temperatures ranging well over 100 degrees will persist in some areas through Thursday.

Per the warning issued Wednesday morning, “Afternoon temperatures will range from 95 to 105, with the potential for the region`s hottest interior locations to reach up to 107. In addition, overnight low temperatures in the region`s higher elevations will only cool into the 70s to lower 80s.”

The advisory goes into effect 11 A.M. today and through at least 8 P.M. on Thursday. The affected area includes Santa Rosa, South Santa Rosa, Napa, San Rafael, Petaluma, Novato, Concord, Antioch, Livermore, Walnut Creek, Pleasanton, Pittsburg, San Ramon, and San Jose.

NWS forecasts highs of 106 in Concord Wednesday and 107 on Thursday. Walnut Creek faces a similar forecast, while Livermore may hit 105 over the next 48 hours,

Cities like San Jose and Santa Rosa will be somewhat less in the firing line, with highs of 97 anticipated in both regions.

Oakland and other East Bay locales closer to San Francisco are only expected to climb into the mid-80s, while San Francisco itself is looking at low 80s.

However, residents of these cities should also be prepared, as some previous 2019 heat waves have beaten expectations and pushed even San Francisco into triple digits a few times.

The NWS advisory notes that there is a “moderate to high risk of heat illness for those who are sensitive to heat or for those who are exposed to the sun and active for long durations. This heat will also be dangerous to anyone without proper hydration or adequate cooling.”

Although most people are not in immediate danger from high temperatures, this kind of heat shouldn’t be taken lightly.

The Environmental Protection Agency calculates that between 1979 and 2014, over 250 people died “as a direct result of exposure to heat”—but that figure nearly doubles when “accounting for those additional deaths in which heat was listed as a contributing factor.”

People 65 and older are particularly vulnerable, and households without air conditioning may have trouble finding effective solace from ambient conditions.

Air conditioned public places like libraries and shopping malls may provide crucial relief during the hottest times of the day. Regular welfare checks on elderly friends and relatives in particular are advised.