Summer is heating up in Santa Barbara County with warmer temperatures in store through the weekend, prompting heat advisories and excessive heat warnings in some backcountry areas.
Rose Schoenfeld with the National Weather Service told Noozhawk that Santa Barbara and coastal areas can expect to see temperature highs in the upper 70s to low 80s Thursday, a high around 94 degrees in the Santa Ynez Valley, and up to 102 degrees in the Cuyama Valley.
“Friday, Saturday and Sunday are some of the warmer days,” Schoenfeld said. “The warmest day is looking to be Sunday.”
During these days, temperatures in Santa Barbara will remain in the upper 70s and low 80s, while temperatures in the Santa Ynez Valley are expected to be in the upper 80s to mid 90s. The Cuyama area could see a high of 109 degrees.
Schoenfeld said the National Weather Service is not currently forecasting any daily heat records to be reached in the county, except for possibly in Cuyama.
She added that temperatures should gradually come down again on Monday.
Heat advisories and watches currently in effect from the National Weather Service include a heat advisory in the interior mountains of Santa Barbara County through 10 a.m. Friday, an excessive heat warning through 10 a.m. Monday, and an excessive heat watch through 11 p.m. Monday — both of which also for the Santa Barbara County interior mountains.
The City of Santa Barbara released tips for people to stay safe in the heat including: staying cool by wearing lightweight, light-colored clothing; avoiding direct sunlight; finding an air-conditioned shelter; and not relying on a fan as a primary cooling device. Other tips include staying hydrated by drinking more water than usual and avoiding alcohol or other drinks containing high amounts of sugar.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that some of the populations that are more at risk of heat-related illness include adults over 65, children under 4, people with existing medical problems such as heart disease, and those without access to air conditioning.
“Something to keep in mind — check cars,” Schoenfeld said. “It can get a lot hotter in vehicles than it feels like outside, especially for kids and pets.”
Some signs of heat stroke include high body temperature; hot, red, dry, or damp skin; headache; dizziness; nausea; confusion; and losing consciousness. Signs of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating; cold, pale, and clammy skin; nausea; muscle cramps; tiredness or weakness; dizziness; or headache.
Other signs of heat-related illnesses and information on what to do if these signs are observed can be found on the CDC’s website here, as well as on the Montecito Trails Foundation’s website here.
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