South County reached 110 degrees by 5 p.m. today - a record high for any June day of the past 20 years, according to local weatherman Chris Henry.
"Today is the first day of summer, so it's appropriate," he said. Henry said he's kept track of the temperatures for the past two decades and he's never felt a June day this hot. The first day of summer officially starts Saturday.
Sunny skies and high temperatures were expected in South County, with highs predicted to surpass 100 degrees. In Gilroy, it was 102 degrees measured at St. Mary School by noon.
According to the National Weather Service Web site at 5 p.m., temperatures in South County were a scorching 110 degrees.
But Henry said no one expected the thermometer to creep up so high for today.
"Not one computer model in the world latched onto this temperature," he said. "It's much hotter than was expected."
A longtime weather observer for the National Weather Service, Henry said the Central and Northern California can thank a Pacific Ocean storm for the heat. The storm, and the cool air accompanying it, were expected to head north, but instead headed southeast. Because of this route, Southern California is cooler than expected and Northern California is much hotter.
"It's a teeter-totter thing," Henry said.
Henry said today was unusually dry as well with humidity at only 10 percent.
Morgan Hill's downtown was quiet as citizens ducked into buildings to keep cool. Some children played at the Community and Cultural Center's water feature - until it shut off at 4 p.m., that is.
Kaitlyn Underhill, 7, wasn't expecting the shut off.
"That's a ridiculous plan!" she screamed, crouching over the empty fountain head in her pink two-piece bathing suit, wet pigtails splayed to her head.
"I like it when I run through them," Underhill said. "I try to make it through every sprinkler I can."
Her mom, Lisa Underhill, said they'd probably go home, turn on the sprinklers and let Kaitlyn, her brother Evan, 4, and cousin Riley Lape, 4, run around there instead.
"Is it really that hot out here?" Underhill exclaimed, incredulous.
Sandra Diner, the center's office assistant, said the water feature can only run for four hours per day because the Santa Clara County Health Department has strict rules on water testing, requiring it every four hours, and the city doesn't have the staff to test more.
Underhill said that other than the water play, she keeps her family cool by staying inside with the doors and windows closed.
She's got the right idea, according to the Santa Clara County Health Department.
To prevent heat stroke, exhaustion or cramps, drink water or other non-carbonated liquids, avoid alcohol and caffeine, stay in air conditioned areas and wear lightweight, light-colored and loose-fitting clothing.
Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness and occurs when the body's temperature rises quickly and the body can't cool down. Those at highest risk of heat stroke are the elderly, the very young and people with mental illness or chronic diseases.
A heat advisory remains in effect until 8 p.m. today, and another advisory was issued from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday.
Sunday, temperatures should cool even more, as fog rolls inland over night. Expect highs in the low-90s.
Natalie Everett Natalie Everett covers education and city issues for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106, ext. 201, or neverett@morganhilltimes.com.
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