Samuel Solis gives a thumbs up to a friend on shore as he snorkels the shallows of Millerton Lake, Saturday May 23, 2020.
JOHN WALKER
The Fresno Bee
California is gearing up for high temperatures this weekend, and conditions will be especially hot and dry throughout parts of the Central Valley.
Highs are expected to creep up to 107 in Fresno, Madera and Modesto by Monday. Similar temperatures are expected farther north in Stockton, Chico and Redding.
A large heat dome is set to overtake the western U.S. this weekend. And while it does attempt to back off a bit, it will reamerge mid-next week and keep temps in central and especially northern California hot even while SoCal cools down. #cawx pic.twitter.com/l0BYaPvAPv
— Sean Macaday (@MacadayWX) July 30, 2026
According to Carlos Molina, a meteorologist based at the National Weather Service’s Hanford office, a disturbance currently over the Pacific Northwest is making its way to the Midwest.
This will cause a heat dome, a collection of higher-pressure and warmer air stretching through to the upper atmosphere. It’s currently over the southwest and is forecast to get pushed toward California.
Some communities like Phoenix and Blythe are already feeling the effects of the heat dome, Molina said, though it’s slated to make its way over to the Valley on Saturday.
Molina said the heat dome may linger over the Valley until Tuesday or Wednesday next week.
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The Fresno Bee
Nick Fenley is a reporter covering education, lawsuits, breaking news and more for The Fresno Bee. He’s originally from the Imperial Valley and has been with The Bee since 2025.
The Sacramento Bee
Sean Macaday covers the weather for McClatchy Media in California. Originally from Chicago, Sean worked 6 years covering the weather on local television in Minnesota. He holds a bachelor’s degree in meteorology and marine science from the University of Miami.