A looming heat wave that is gearing up to overtake the Bay Area has prompted the unprecedented: The region’s first-ever heat advisory issued in March.
With local temperatures forecast to reach the 80s along the coast and 90s inland, the National Weather Service issued a heat risk advisory for the Bay Area and Central Coast regions from Monday morning through Friday afternoon.
Temperatures in San Francisco are forecast to hit the mid-80s all week, about 20 degrees above average highs for March. Parts of the East Bay, including Oakland, are expected to approach 90 degrees, and inland areas could get even warmer.
“This level of heat affects most individuals sensitive to heat, especially those without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration,” the weather service said Saturday, adding that at this time of year, people’s bodies may not be used to dealing with such high temperatures. The weather service advised residents to remain hydrated, limit strenuous outdoor activities to the early morning or evening, and wear light and loose-fitting clothes.
The agency has never before issued a heat advisory in the Bay Area in March, and only one April heat advisory has been recorded over the past two decades.
For those planning a beach day to escape the sweltering temperatures, the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management warned people in a social media post of dangerous rip currents at Ocean Beach and discouraged them from entering the water, especially if they are not experienced swimmers.
The heat wave is expected to stretch beyond the Bay Area and impact much of Southern California, where the weather service issued its first-ever extreme heat watch for the region during March. The notice covers a huge swath of coastal and inland areas from San Luis Obispo to San Diego and will also be in effect from Monday through Friday.
Chronicle newsroom meteorologist Anthony Edwards contributed to this report.