OK, so it’s hot this week in Stockton. Nothing new about that.
What is new is that much of the rest of California is sweltering right along with the Central Valley.
The predicted high Tuesday in Stockton will be 94 degrees, The mercury stays about the same on Wednesday at 96 degrees and Thursday at 94 degrees again, the National Weather Service predicts.
Other cities have it worse. To the north, Redding is forecast to be 96 degrees Tuesday. To the south, Los Angeles is expected to endure 99 degrees, rising to 102 degrees on Wednesday.
Surprising? Not really, said NWS meteorologist Jacob Spender.
Temperatures are rising throughout much of the state because of a high-pressure system lingering over the western U.S. that won’t let up. It’s leading to both dry conditions and monsoonal moisture. Spender said.
Not that unusual, however, this time of year. “It’s kind of typical,” Spender said.
Staying cool involves wearing light clothing, drinking plenty of water and staying indoors during the hottest times of day, the Stockton Fire Department says.
To truly beat the heat, Stockton offers a range of get-wet options.
First and foremost, there are city’s six public swimming pools. They can be found at Brooking Park, 4505 Nugget Ave.; Holiday Park, 5710 Kermit Lane; McKinley Park, 2332 S. El Dorado St.; Oak Park, 3537 Alvarado Ave.; Sousa Park, 2829 Yellowstone Ave. and Victory Park, 1445 Picardy Dr.
For kids, there are splash pads or water-play areas at Gleason Park at 535 E. Church St.; Iloilo Park, 6250 Scott Creek Dr.; Michael Faklis Park, 5250 Cosumnes Dr.; Pixie Woods Children’s Park, 3121 Monte Diablo Ave.; and Smith Park, 2606 William Moss Blvd.
And for adults who just want a cool place to retreat, the city has a mix of libraries and community centers.
They include Arnold Rue Community Center, 5758 Lorraine Ave.; Fair Oaks Library, 2370 E, Main St.; Margaret Klausner Troke Branch Library, 502 W Benjamin Holt Dr.; Maya Angelou Branch Library, 2324 Pock Lane; Seifert Community Center, 128 W. Benjamin Holt Dr.; Stribley Community Center, 1760 E. Sonora St.; Ursula Meyer Library & Community Center, 1461 E Morada Lane; Van Buskirk Community Center, 734 Houston Ave.; and Weston Ranch Branch Library, 1453 W. French Camp Road.
Does the heat make you just want to leave of town?
If so, head for San Francisco. The city-by-the-bay is predicted to be a comfortable 70 degrees Tuesday and to not rise above 72 degrees the rest of the week.