Summer may technically still be several weeks away on the calendar, but forecasts this week are already teasing triple digits for Stockton.
Weather officials issued an extreme heat watch that will go into effect at 11 a.m. Friday and run through 11 p.m. Saturday. The alert includes the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys as well as Shasta and Colusa counties.
Dangerously hot conditions with temperatures ranging from 99 to 109 degrees are possible, forecasters said, with low temperatures in the mid-60s to mid-70s offering only limited overnight relief.
While Stockton has yet to hit 100 degrees this year, the National Weather Service office in Sacramento says there’s a high probability that will happen by the end of this week. Meteorologists are predicting a high of 102 degrees Friday and 103 on Saturday.
Last year, the city set a record with 41 days of temperatures that topped 100 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
Here’s what to know as this pre-summer heat wave bears down on Stockton:
When will Stockton hit 100 degrees?
High temperatures are expected to climb into the low 90s this week before Friday’s triple-digit forecast.
If Friday hits its projected 102 degrees, it will be the first day this year to break the 100-degree threshold.
Once the extreme heat watch is in effect Friday, weather officials expect limited cooling overnight. Saturday is also expected to top out over 100 degrees, with a predicted high of 103.
Is this week a precursor to a scorching summer? Officials say it’s too soon to tell how often Stockton will see triple digits for the rest of the year.
“There is currently no quantitative assessment on exactly how hot the summer will be for Stockton in terms of how many 100 degree days we will have and when it will occur,” Dakari Anderson, an NWS meteorologist in the Sacramento office, said.
Currently, the Climate Prediction Center estimates that Stockton and Northern California in general will have above-normal temperatures into the next three months.
Staying safe in the heat
The NWS office in Sacramento warns that heat-related illnesses can increase significantly during extreme heat events, particularly for those working outside or doing outdoor activities.
Here are some ways to stay safe:
- Drink plenty of water.
- Stay in air-conditioned rooms and avoid the sun.
- Check on your family and neighbors.
- Do not leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles.
- Check the latest forecast for warnings and updates.
- Be aware that nearby waterways continue to run cold and fast, creating dangerous conditions for those seeking relief in rivers and lakes.
Find more tips at ready.gov, a website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
When was Stockton’s hottest summer?
Last summer was the hottest in Stockton, with a record number of days that surpassed 100 degrees.
Traditionally, Stockton has averaged 16 days of triple-digit temperatures during the 96-day summer season.
But over the course of the last decade, that average has increased to 19 days.
Last year, Stockton Airport recorded 43 days above 100 degrees, 49 if you include 100-degree days. The average high temperature last year was 79.5 degrees in Stockton, breaking a record set in 1961 of 79.1 degrees. The hottest days were July 6 and 11, with both days hitting 111 degrees.
Here’s a look at the first 100-degree days of the year over the last 10 years, as recorded at Stockton Airport:
- 2024: June 4
- 2023: June 30
- 2022: May 24
- 2021: May 31
- 2020: May 25
- 2019: June 5
- 2018: May 28
- 2017: May 21
- 2016: May 31
- 2015: June 8