2 days ago
Redding heat wave peaks with 110 degrees, as smoky air drifts over North State
The smoke from the Green Fire that's covering greater Redding and choking the air quality is expected to linger most of the weekend, with nights likely getting worse.
That's according to the National Weather Service in Sacramento, which also placed the Redding area and parts of Northern California under an excessive heat warning that lasts through 11 p.m. Monday.
Afternoon temperatures in the Redding area could heat up to 110 on Friday afternoon, 108 over the weekend and will be accompanied by gusty wind, said Nathan Rick, meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Sacramento branch.
People should stay indoors in air conditioning during the hottest hours of the day to avoid heat-related health issues, public health branches cautioned.
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Wind gusts of up to 20 mph on Friday won't give anyone much respite when it's that hot. Those winds continue through Saturday, then gain more strength on Sunday, gusting up to 25 mph, Rick said.
It's possible smoke from the Green Fire could help lower temperatures, but that same smoke is polluting the air over Shasta County, according to the Shasta County Air Quality Management District. The county advised people, especially those with health issues, to stay indoors when air is polluted.
The smoky air will stick around most of the weekend, with the worst of it at nighttime. That's when light wind blows Green Fire smoke to the south over the city and down the Sacramento Valley, Rick said.
Those winds then turn to the north and northeast during the day, sending smoke rolling into Siskiyou and Modoc counties, he said.
Those drying winds coupled with the baking heat could help the Green Fire spread over the weekend, according to the weather service and the U.S. Forest Service.
That doesn't mean the fire will grow in the same direction the wind is blowing in Redding, Rick said.
Forest service firefighters report the Green Fire is burning through deep rugged terrain that twists the direction winds move. That makes it hard to predict exactly where the wildfire will grow, he said.
Some good news: The heat wave ends on Tuesday or Wednesday. Afternoon temperatures will stay below 100 degrees for most of the week, with nighttime temperatures dropping into the mid- to upper 60s, according to the forecast.
Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica on Record Searchlight Facebook groups Get Out! Nor Cal , Today in Shasta County and Shaping Redding's Future. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Smoky air drifts over Redding as excessive heat warning hits area
