A dangerous heat wave backed by the largest heat dome on Earth is set to bake Fresno and the San Joaquin Valley this weekend, with temperatures approaching 108 degrees in some areas. The National Weather Service has issued heat advisories through Monday evening, and forecasters warn the triple-digit temperatures will linger into next week.
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The largest heat dome on Earth will settle over the southwestern U.S. on Friday, sending temperatures into the triple digits across the Central Valley, with highs approaching 110 degrees near Bakersfield and Redding and above 105 degrees in Fresno, according to Fresno Bee weather coverage.A heat advisory takes effect from noon Saturday to Monday evening across the San Joaquin Valley, covering Fresno, Merced, Bakersfield, Visalia, Madera and Hanford, with afternoon highs expected to reach as high as 108 degrees.Overnight relief will be limited, with low temperatures only dipping to the upper 60s on the valley floor and staying as high as the low 80s in some foothill areas — a lack of nighttime cooldown that pushes cumulative heat stress into dangerous territory, especially for vulnerable people and those without reliable air conditioning.Hurricane Genevieve’s rapid intensification in the east Pacific is strengthening the heat dome and adding a few degrees to California temperatures, as heat released by the storm rises into the upper atmosphere and flows north.Carlos Molina, a meteorologist with the NWS Hanford office, recommended seeking shade, staying out of the sun and drinking plenty of water, telling residents, “You definitely need to take precautions.”For those looking to escape, Molina suggested heading north or east of Fresno, where Bass Lake is expected to reach a high of 93, Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite will see 78, and Lake Edison in eastern Fresno County will range from 73 to 87, per National Weather Service forecasts.Five new ice cream and frozen yogurt shops have opened in the Fresno-Clovis area in the past year, including Jay’s Specialty Ice Cream at 5985 W. Shaw Ave. and The Ice Cream Shop at 2832 N. Fowler Ave., offering local ways to cool down.Temperatures are expected to linger into early next week, with highs recovering slightly by Tuesday but still remaining in the triple digits for much of the San Joaquin Valley, while Southern California cools as the heat dome shifts north.
Original stories by Sean Macaday, Bethany Clough and Amber Hair
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This story was originally published July 31, 2026 5:24 PM.