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Inland California Endures First Major Summer Heat Wave, Fire Risk Climbs

Interior valleys face triple-digit heat under widespread warnings; containment efforts on major wildfires lag below 10 percent.

Richard Barajas wipes sweat off of his face in Santa Rosa in July 2024.
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Overview

  • A Four Corners high-pressure dome has triggered California’s first significant heat wave after a cool June and July, driving interior highs into the 90s and triple digits.
  • Forecasts call for deserts, interior valleys and Bay Area interiors to reach 100°F or higher through Friday, while coastal zones stay in the 60s and 70s under marine influence.
  • State and local authorities have issued heat advisories and extreme heat warnings across much of inland Southern and Northern California from Wednesday through Friday, with peak temperatures of 105–118°F in the Coachella Valley and Inland Empire.
  • The 82,000-acre Gifford fire remains just 7% contained; extreme heat and parched vegetation are hampering efforts to control the blaze.
  • A stronger, more expansive heat wave is forecast to develop Friday, persisting through the weekend as the Four Corners dome merges with a Northeast Pacific ridge.