Heat Advisory Issued: Stay Hydrated, Seek Cool Spaces Through Wednesday

Residents across the San Joaquin Valley, Sierra Nevada foothills, and Coastal West Hills must prepare for dangerously high temperatures, with a Heat Advisory issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) Hanford, CA. The advisory is effective immediately, October 3 at 5:34 PM PDT, and will remain in effect until 11:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, October 7.

High temperatures are expected to reach up to 104 degrees, with the southern San Joaquin Valley experiencing the warmest conditions. Overnight lows in the Sierra Foothills could remain between 70 and 75 degrees. These conditions pose a moderate to major risk of heat-related illnesses for a significant portion of the population, particularly those without access to effective cooling or sufficient hydration.

Affected areas include a wide swath of our community, specifically: West Side Mountains north of 198, Los Banos - Dos Palos, Merced - Madera - Mendota, Planada - Le Grand - Snelling, Coalinga - Avenal, West Side of Fresno and Kings Counties, Caruthers - San Joaquin - Selma, Fresno-Clovis, West Side Mountains South of 198, Buttonwillow - Lost Hills - I5, Delano-Wasco-Shafter, Hanford - Corcoran - Lemoore, Visalia - Porterville - Reedley, Buena Vista, Bakersfield, Southeast San Joaquin Valley, South End San Joaquin Valley, Mariposa Madera Foothills, Mariposa-Madera Lower Sierra, Fresno-Tulare Foothills, Fresno-Tulare Lower Sierra, South End Sierra Foothills, and the South End of the Lower Sierra.

To prevent heat-related illness, the NWS advises everyone to drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned rooms, stay out of the sun, and check on relatives and neighbors. These precautions are crucial during this extended period of extreme heat.