Although it was an unpleasant surprise for some and for others
the perfect temperature for an end-of-summer holiday weekend, the
heat wave the area is experiencing is not unseasonable or
unusual.
Although it was an unpleasant surprise for some and for others the perfect temperature for an end-of-summer holiday weekend, the heat wave the area is experiencing is not unseasonable or unusual.
According to the National Weather Service, it is normal for the Morgan Hill area to have several periods of triple-digit temperatures during late summer. Monday’s high was 104; Sunday’s high was 99.
The Morgan Hill area will continue to have hot weather, with highs around 100 or upper 90s through the rest of the week. The thermometer is expected to fall several degrees daily into the weekend.
In Morgan Hill, many residents cooled off at the new Aquatics Center, where the staff described the place as “packed” all three days.
The hot, dry weather increases the fire danger, however the lack of wind is a plus for firefighters. Those battling a more than 12,000-acre wildfire in the Sonoma County wine country are hampered in their efforts by high winds which help spread the flames, as well as keep the vegetation dry.
The reason for the heat wave, according to the National Weather Service, is an offshore flow pattern that brings winds from an easterly direction, stopping an onshore flow from the ocean. The winds coming down from the eastern hills warm our area as well as coastal areas as they descend, making beaches like Santa Cruz popular spots for a last summer weekend. The heat keeps humidity low, which contributes to the high fire danger.
But the warm, still weather can cause problems for many. Morgan Hill residents without air conditioning have no cooling breeze to open their windows to, and some groups of people are vulnerable to the increased pollution levels.
Weather conditions in Morgan Hill contributed to levels of pollution deemed unhealthy for certain groups of people Monday, including those with asthma or other pre-existing respiratory ailments, the elderly, because lung function decreases with age, toddlers and athletes taking part in strenuous exercise.
Because of these conditions, Monday was declared a “Spare the Air” day, when residents are encouraged to take precautions to decrease their contribution of pollutants to the atmosphere. The air district asked residents not to barbecue on Labor Day as one way to not raise pollution levels.
Today also was declared a “Spare the Air” day; the determination for Wednesday will be made this afternoon.
Darrell Waller of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District said “Spare the Air” days are designed to bring the public’s attention to the danger, as well as to encourage less pollution.
“Sometimes it is not apparent that the pollution levels are high, even if they are,” he said. “We want to get the word out to those at risk, as well as to help people understand how they can make a difference.”
Precautions include: leaving cars at home and walking, biking or using public transportation; “trip-linking,” or accomplishing many errands when driving rather than just one or two at a time, as vehicles pollute more in the first few minutes of operation than when they warm up; telecommute, if employer will allow it; don’t use gas-powered lawnmowers or other equipment; limit use of aerosol products, such as hair care products and cleaning products; and don’t use outside grills.
With fire danger also at “red flag” levels, certain preventative measures are important.
The Santa Clara County Fire Department and the California Department of Forestry recommend clearing a “defensible space” around homes and outbuildings, moving woodpiles away from homes and outbuildings and if you need to use a lawnmower or other yard equipment, do so early in the day when the air is cooler and the vegetation is not as dry.
Firefighters from the CDF Ranger unit based here in Morgan Hill are on standby status for the Sonoma County fire.
Despite the red-flag warnings in effect through the weekend, Chris Crockett, senior park ranger at Coyote Lake County Park, said campgrounds were full and boating activity was high.
“We’re maxed out on boat capacity now,” Crockett said Monday afternoon. “There’s about five or six boats waiting in line. So we’ve definitely been busy. People are starting to pack up and head home now because they’ve got to go back to work tomorrow, but it’s been an active morning. It’s been good.”
Campers were not allowed open fires Sunday night because of the high fire danger
