Northern California forecast: Heat continues to grow and new records are anticipated next week
This Sunday will be a few degrees warmer as heat builds in our area for an unusually hot and dry week.
CONDITIONS TO SAY THE VERY LEAST. OPHELIA, I WISH WE COULD BRING SOME OF THAT RAIN OVER HERE BECAUSE LOOKING AHEAD, WE ARE GOING TO BE AS DRY AS BONE AND HOT. IN FACT, BY THE START OF THIS UPCOMING WEEK, WE’RE GOING TO BE WONDERING WHAT MONTH WE’RE EVEN IN. EVEN THOUGH WINTER HAS NOT COME TO AN END YET, WE’RE LOOKING OUT AT CLEAR SKIES AT THE SUN PREPARES TO GO DOWN. IT WAS A COMFORTABLE DAY, STILL WARMER THAN WHAT WE SHOULD HAVE FOR THE MIDDLE OF MARCH. TEMPERATURES TOPPING OUT AT 77 DEGREES. THAT’S 11 DEGREES WARMER THAN THE NORMAL, BUT AT LEAST WE STAYED FAR SOUTH OF ANY DAILY RECORD HIGHS. HOWEVER, THESE NEXT FEW DAYS WE’RE GOING TO BE CHALLENGING THEM, IF NOT BREAKING THEM. AND TEMPERATURES ABOVE NORMAL SEEMS TO BE THE NORMAL THIS MONTH. NOW, AS EVERY SINGLE DAY HAS BEEN WARMER THAN WHAT IT SHOULD BE. IN FACT, THE AVERAGE OF ALL THESE NUMBERS, WE ARE RUNNING MORE THAN SEVEN DEGREES WARMER THAN WE SHOULD FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH. AT THIS TIME. AND NOTICE THAT THERE ARE NO 80 DEGREE TEMPERATURES ON THERE. WELL, THIS UPCOMING WEEK WE HAVE TEMPERATURES IN THE 80S ALL THE WAY INTO NEXT WEEKEND. WE ALSO HAVE FORECASTS, NEW DAILY RECORD HIGHS PRETTY MUCH EVERY DAY STARTING MONDAY. AND FIRST WE’RE GOING TO BE SETTING THOSE NEW DAILY RECORD HIGHS BY 1 OR 2 DEGREES BY WEDNESDAY. THURSDAY WE’RE GOING TO BE SMASHING THOSE DAILY RECORDS BY ANYWHERE FROM 5 TO 7 DEGREES. EVEN THOUGH WE COOL A BIT ON FRIDAY, STILL A NEW FORECAST DAILY RECORD HIGH NUMBER THAT WE’RE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR 88 DEGREES, WHICH IS THE WARMEST THAT THE SACRAMENTO EXECUTIVE AIRPORT HAS EVER HIT IN THE MONTH OF MARCH. THAT WAS BACK IN 1988. THURSDAY’S FORECAST HIGH HAPPENS TO BE 88 DEGREES. AND OF COURSE, IF WE GET TO 89, WE’RE GOING TO HAVE A NEW MONTHLY RECORD ON OUR HANDS. AS FOR TODAY, LOOKS PRETTY COMFORTABLE NOW, RIGHT? TEMPERATURES IN THE MID TO UPPER 70S THIS AFTERNOON. AUBURN PLACERVILLE IN THE LOW 70S. TRUCKEE AND SOUTH LAKE TAHOE TOPPING OUT IN THE LOW 60S. STILL HOLDING ON TO SIMILAR VALUES. SOME AREAS HAVE DROPPED 1 OR 2 DEGREES, BUT FOR THE MOST PART IT’S A VERY WARM START TO YOUR EVENING WITH TEMPERATURES STILL IN THE MID TO UPPER 70S YUBA CITY SACRAMENTO STOCKTON PLACERVILLE IN THE LOW 70S, TRUCKEE AND SOUTH LAKE TAHOE STILL AROUND 60 DEGREES THIS LATE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. IT’S GOING TO BE A GORGEOUS SATURDAY NIGHT. VERY COMFORTABLE UNTIL ABOUT 9:00. THAT’S WHEN WE’LL NOTICE. TEMPERATURES WILL COOL A LITTLE BIT INTO THE 60S, BUT IT WON’T BE UNTIL AFTER MIDNIGHT WHEN TEMPERATURES DIP INTO THE 50S. WE HAVE THIS AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE. THIS IS THE SECOND ONE THIS WEEK THAT’S ON THE MOVE IN. WE COULD BLAME THIS FOR THE HOT WEATHER AS IT STRENGTHENS OVER THE WEST COAST. IT IS GOING TO BECOME A HIGH PRESSURE HEAT DOME. IT IS GOING TO BE HOT ENOUGH FOR US TO CALL A HEAT DOME, AND IT’S GOING TO LINGER AROUND ALL THE WAY THROUGH SATURDAY, BRINGING HIGHS IN THE MID TO UPPER 80S. WE’RE TALKING 15 TO 25 DEGREES ABOVE THE NORMAL. THE HEAT IS GOING TO PEAK TUESDAY ALL THE WAY THROUGH THURSDAY. FRIDAY WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE GOING TO RUN ABOUT 20, IF NOT MORE DEGREES ABOVE THAT NORMAL, WHICH IS MID TO UPPER 60S FOR THIS TIME OF THE YEAR AND EVEN NEXT WEEKEND AS TEMPERATURES DIP A LITTLE BIT, STILL RUNNING ABOUT 8 TO 10 DEGREES ABOVE WHAT WE SHOULD HAVE IN THIS FOR THE START OF SPRING. YES, SPRING HAS NOT EVEN STARTED YET AND TEMPERATURES ARE ALREADY IN THE 80S IN THE FOOTHILLS IN THE MID 70S THIS WEEK IN THE SIERRA AND IN THE VALLEY, TEMPERATURES ARE GOING TO BE RUNNING CLOSE TO 90 DEGREES ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. YOU SEE THAT PINK FLOWER THERE ON FRIDAY. THAT IS THE START OF SPRING. HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A TEMPERATURE THERE THAT IS CLOSE
Northern California forecast: Heat continues to grow and new records are anticipated next week
This Sunday will be a few degrees warmer as heat builds in our area for an unusually hot and dry week.
Updated: 9:33 PM PDT Mar 14, 2026
This Sunday will be a few degrees warmer as heat builds in our area for an unusually hot and dry week.
Sunday’s forecast
As high pressure moves overhead and strengthens, Sunday’s temperatures are forecast to peak in the low 80s for the first time in the Valley this year. Foothill highs will be in the upper 70s, with Sierra highs climbing into the mid-60s.
Record-breaking heat
High temperatures will continue to rise through the week and are expected to set new daily record highs each day. We’ll be approaching 90 degrees by the middle and end of the week.
Heat Risk
Heat risk will increase from minor to moderate very quickly this year, as Northern Californians have not had the chance to acclimate to this warm weather. This means everyone should stay ahead of their water intake and dress in layers. Plan to stay in cool, shaded areas in the afternoon, and never leave pets or children in a car.
Foothills & Sierra 7-day forecast
The 7-day forecast is dry and unseasonably hot in the foothills and Sierra as well.
Valley 7-day forecast
Spring officially starts on Friday, but the days will feel more like the start of summer.