The sweltering temperatures toasting the Central Coast are expected to continue in the new week.
An excessive heat warning will remain in effect until 8 p.m. Monday for a large part of Santa Barbara County and two days later for some inland areas, including the Cuyama Valley, where the temperature could climb to between 105 and 110 degrees, according to the National Weather Service office in Oxnard.
Santa Ynez Valley locations, including Lake Cachuma, Los Olivos and Solvang, could see hot conditions of up to 106 degrees, according to the forecast.
Local coastal areas, including Santa Barbara, Goleta, Carpinteria, Refugio State Beach, Jalama Beach, Gaviota and Santa Maria, may see temperatures around 95 degrees in the coming days.
The heat watch for other parts of Santa Barbara County, including Santa Maria, also is scheduled to end at 8 p.m. Monday.
“Usually once or twice a year we get these prolonged heat waves, so it’s not too uncommon,” NWS meteorologist Dave Gomberg said. “This one’s a little bit more on the extreme side in terms of the duration, I would say.”
A longer duration hot spell affects people who are more sensitive to heat issues, he added.
Officials reminded residents to drink plenty of fluids, stay out of the sun and to take precautions if working outside. Children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles.
The temperatures in the mid-90s expected in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria on Sunday will be about 20 degrees hotter than the normal temperature for the date.
High temperatures on Saturday hit 89 at the Santa Barbara Airport and in Goleta and Santa Maria, with Santa Ynez logging 108 degrees.
While Santa Barbara County apparently missed out, monsoonal moisture over Ventura and Los Angeles counties led to thunderstorms with hail in some southern areas Saturday. However, a slight chance of thunderstorms exists for Sunday for the interior areas of Santa Barbara County, including the Cuyama Valley because of monsoonal moisture.
The hot weather baking the state led to more Flex Alerts urging residents to conserve energy between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.
“Consumers are urged to #conserve electricity as challenging grid conditions persist due to the heatwave,” according to California ISO, the organization charged with monitoring the state’s electrical needs.
As a precaution beause of the hot temperatures and dry conditions, some firefighting resources were pre-positioned in southern Santa Barbara County to allow for a quicker response to any new fires sparking in the area.
Several locations, according to Santa Barbara County emergency officials, have been designated as cooling centers for people needing to escape the heat. They include:
» Goleta Library, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, 500 N. Fairview Ave.
» St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Church, 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday and 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday, 2901 Nojoqui Ave. in Los Olivos
» Buellton Senior Center, daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., but call 805.688.4571 first to ensure staff is available; all ages are welcome
» Santa Maria Town Center, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
» Cuyama Library, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday and Monday, 4689 Highway 166 in New Cuyama
» Joseph Centeno Aquatics Center, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday and Monday, 290 Wasioja St. in New Cuyama
Click here for the latest weather forecast for Santa Barbara.
Click here for the latest weather forecast for the Santa Ynez Valley.
Click here for the latest weather forecast for Santa Maria.
— Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.