MENDOCINO Co, CA, 9/6/22 — Tuesday saw Ukiah’s highest recorded temperature of all time, clocking in at 117°F this afternoon according to the National Weather Service, in what is likely to be the peak of this week’s heat wave. The previous recorded high was 115°F, according to NWS Eureka.
NWS Eureka said remote weather stations also showed high temperatures elsewhere in inland Mendocino County; Laytonville had a temperature of 110°F, Boonville had a temperature of 115°F, Potter Valley had a temperature of 113°F, and the Eel River station had a temperature of 110°F.
California’s historic heat wave will likely extend through the end of week, with an extreme heat alert from Mendocino County Public Health expected to end on Friday, Sept. 9 at 8 p.m. NWS Eureka forecasts that highs will continue to break 100°F in Ukiah through Friday.
The first county-run cooling station in this heat wave opened at noon on Monday, located at the Ukiah Civic Center at 300 Seminary Avenue. The station will keep hours between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. through Friday.
More stations opened, according to the Mendocino County Library and a public health representative, at these locations:
- Round Valley Volunteer Fire Protection District, 75900 CA-162, Round Valley. Cooling/Hydration Station
- Round Valley Senior Center, 77826 Covelo Road, Cooling/Hydration Station
- Round Valley Library, 23925 Howard Street, Cooling/Hydration Station, Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Ukiah Valley Conference Center, 200 S. School Street, Cooling/Hydration Station, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Ukiah Senior Center, 499 Leslie Street, Main Hall – Cooling Station, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Ukiah Library, 105 N. Main Street, Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. Closed Monday
- The ARRC – Alex Rorabaugh Center, 1640 South State Street, #1, Ukiah, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Willits City Hall: Open Tues-Thurs from 9 AM – 5:30 PM (111 E Commercial St)
- Potter Valley Community Center: Open Tues-Wed from 12 PM – 6 PM (10175 Main St)
- Yuki Trails: Open Tues-Thurs from 11 AM – 7 PM (23000 Henderson Rd, Covelo)
- Family Resource Center: Open Tues-Thurs from 9 AM – 5 PM (76471 Henderson Rd)
- Round Valley Indian Health Center: Open Tues & Thurs from 1 PM – 7 PM (24065 Biggar Ln)
Hours could be adjusted should rolling power outages occur, Public Health advised.
The county has refrained from opening stations in Boonville since that area is expected to cool off in the evening, making conditions more tolerable, the public health representative told The Mendocino Voice. Find the forecast for your specific area here.
The California Independent Systems Operator (CAISO) has said rotating outages are possible due to high demand on the electric grid statewide. Between 500 and 4,999 PG&E customers were without power in Redwood Valley around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to PG&E’s outage center; Outages should be no longer than two hours in any one area. Those who can are advised to reduce energy usage between the hours of 4 p.m. and 10 p.m., increasing the temperatures on their thermostats and avoiding use of large appliances.
PG&E customers can find information about a potential outage in their neighborhood here. CAISO had not yet directed the utility to implement outages as of 2 p.m. Tuesday, but PG&E said it had notified approximately 525,277 customers to prepare for potential rotating outages this evening “out of an abundance of caution.”
“Keep in close contact with family, friends and neighbors, especially those who have preexisting medical conditions or work outdoors,” Mendocino County Deputy Health Officer Dr. Charlie Evans advised. “It’s important to remind one another to seek shade, drink water and get medical assistance if signs of heat fatigue become visible.”
The weather service also advises precautions including:
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Stay in an air-conditioned room and out of the sun.
- Check up on relatives and neighbors.
- Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances.
- When possible, reschedule strenuous outdoor activities to early morning or evening.
- Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
- Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible.
- To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location.
- Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 911.
Find more information on staying safe in excessive heat here.
Climate scientist Daniel Swain, who shares his observations on Weather West, also said the extreme heat statewide could be a catalyst for accelerated tree mortality this year. Dehydration can significantly endanger trees in both rural and urban areas.
“The prolonged duration of extreme heat, especially in the context of severe ongoing drought and long term climate aridification which we’ve seen in much of California and the West, means that various ecosystems are under great stress, and ecosystems are being pushed outside their preferred envelopes and in some cases outside of their tolerable envelopes,” Swain said in a live conference on Twitter Tuesday. “We’ve been seeing this manifest as widespread tree and forest mortality in parts of California.”
Find past updates in this heat wave here: Mendocino County declares heat emergency; cooling centers open and flex warnings in effect (updated 9/5 1pm)
Heat stroke and exhaustion symptoms
Symptoms | What to do | |
---|---|---|
Heat Exhaustion | – Heavy sweating – Cold, pale, clammy skin – Fast, weak pulse – Nausea or vomiting – Muscle cramps – Tiredness or weakness – Dizziness – Headache – Fainting | – Move to a cool place – Loosen your clothes – Put cool, wet clothes on your body or take a cool bath – Sip water Get medical help right away if: – You are throwing up – Your symptoms get worse – Your symptoms last longer than one hour |
Heat Stroke | – High body temperature (103℉ or higher) – Hot, red, dry, or damp skin – Fast, strong pulse – Headache – Dizziness – Nausea – Confusion – Fainting | – Call 911 immediately – Move person to a cooler place – Help lower temperature with cool cloths or a cool bath – Do NOT give the person anything to drink |
Note: Kate Fishman covers the environment & natural resources for The Mendocino Voice in partnership with a Report For America. Her position is funded by the Community Foundation of Mendocino, Report for America, & our readers. You can support Fishman’s work with a tax-deductible donation here or by emailing [email protected]. Contact her at KFishman@mendovoice.com or at (707) 234-7735. The Voice maintains editorial control and independence.