Santa Barbara County residents can expect warmer weather as temperatures are expected to rise this week.
According to David Gomberg, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, the highest temperatures will be inland, where they issued an excessive heat watch for Wednesday through Friday.
“Areas away from the coast especially will see most of the heat,” Gomberg told Noozhawk.
He continued by saying that the nearby areas that will see the hottest weather are the Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara mountains, and Cuyama Valley.
“Those are in what are called an excessive heat watch, but they will likely go to heat warning,” Gomberg said.
NWS upgraded to an excessive heat warning by Tuesday evening. The agency also issued heat advisories for coastal areas.
The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department issued a health alert for the excessive heat warning and officials sent out messages through the ReadySBC.org alerting system to local residents.
Adding to the heat are sundowner winds, which tend to happen in the evening.
NWS officials are not putting out a fire weather watch, but these winds increase the risk of wildfires, Gomberg noted. Residents are warned to be extra careful when using fire or anything that could ignite a fire.
Week’s Forecast
Solvang and other parts of the Santa Ynez Valley will see an excessive heat watch begin on Wednesday with temperatures in the high-90s. Thursday will be the hottest day with temperatures near 100, the NWS said.
Buellton has not been placed under the excessive heat watch, but it will experience high temperatures in the low-to-high 90s throughout the week. At night, the temperature will drop to the mid-50s.
The Cuyama Valley in northeastern Santa Barbara County expects daytime high temperatures around 100 all week, with an excessive heat warning, the NWS said.
People in coastal Santa Barbara will see cooler temperatures, but the weather will heat up to the mid-80s beginning on Wednesday. Residents in the foothills can expect temperatures in the 90s.
Lompoc will see cooler weather, with daytime temperatures in the high 70s and clear skies. Nighttime temperatures will drop to the mid-50s with patches of fog.
The Santa Maria Valley will have high temperatures in the 70s and low 80s this week.
Click here for the latest seven-day forecast from the National Weather Service.
