A prolonged early-season heat wave is expected to push temperatures into the 80s and 90s across Santa Barbara County beginning Wednesday, with the hottest weather likely Thursday and Friday, according to the National Weather Service.
The NWS has issued a heat advisory for Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Lompoc and the Santa Ynez Valley from 10 a.m. Thursday to 8 p.m. Friday.
The warmup is being driven by what NWS meteorologist Robbie Munroe described as an “unseasonably strong ridge of high pressure” building rapidly into the region from Wednesday into Thursday. He said an accompanying offshore flow will help push hotter temperatures closer to the coast.
“We are very confident that it’s going to be a pretty significant heat wave,” Munroe said. He added that the event could become a “potentially very long period of heat,” with unusually hot conditions for March lasting through the weekend and possibly well into next week.
Multiple daily temperature records appear to be in reach later this week, according to NWS climate data.
Munroe said forecasters are most confident in the Thursday and Friday temperature outlook, with record-breaking potential in Santa Barbara and Lompoc on Thursday, and in Santa Barbara, Lompoc and Santa Maria on Friday if the current forecast holds.
ReadySBC, run by the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management, urges residents to take precautions during the heat, especially older adults, young children and pets. Officials recommend drinking plenty of water, avoiding strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest parts of the day, cooling off in shade or air-conditioned spaces and never leaving children or pets in vehicles. People also should watch for signs of heat exhaustion and call 9-1-1 if heat stroke is suspected.
For more information and preparedness tips, visit ReadySBC.org.
Santa Barbara South Coast Forecast
Santa Barbara is expected to warm from a high of 76 degrees on Wednesday to 89 on Thursday, which would break the March 12 daily record high of 82 set in 2007.
Friday is expected to reach 91, topping the March 13 record of 84 set in 2015. Overnight lows are forecast to remain in the mid- to upper 50s through the weekend. Highs are then expected to ease slightly to 87 on Saturday and 85 on Sunday.
Santa Maria Forecast
Santa Maria is expected to warm from a high of 83 degrees on Wednesday to 90 on Thursday and remain in the low 90s through Sunday. Overnight lows are forecast to stay in the mid- to upper 50s through the weekend.
Friday’s forecast high of 92 would top the March 13 daily record high of 89 set in 2015, and Sunday’s expected high of 91 would exceed the March 15 record of 86, also set in 2015.
Lompoc Forecast
Lompoc is expected to warm from a high of 81 degrees on Wednesday to 89 on Thursday and 90 on Friday, before easing to 86 on Saturday and 87 on Sunday. Overnight lows are forecast to stay in the upper 40s to mid-50s through the weekend.
Thursday’s forecast would break the March 12 daily record high of 88 set in 2007, and Friday’s high would top the March 13 record of 87 set in 2015.
Solvang
Solvang is expected to warm from a high of 84 degrees on Wednesday to 91 on Thursday and 94 on Friday, then stay in the low 90s through the weekend, with highs of 91 on Saturday and Sunday. Overnight lows are forecast to remain cool, ranging from 46 Wednesday night to the low 50s through the weekend.
Check the latest weather forecasts and weather-related alerts and advisories here.
