A brief Bay Area cooldown will give way to a sharp rise in inland temperatures this week, with forecasters warning that parts of the region could approach 100F by Thursday, September 24.
Temperatures are expected to fall by between 5F and 10F below seasonal averages on Sunday, September 20, and Monday as a weak area of low pressure moves into the region. Coastal communities could also see light drizzle early on Monday morning.
The cooler conditions will coincide with the San Francisco 49ers’ home opener against the Miami Dolphins at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Sunday. Kick-off is scheduled for 1.25pm local time, with a mixture of sunshine and cloud and temperatures in the low 70s forecast around the stadium.
North-west winds of up to 10mph are expected during the game, while spectators have been advised to prepare for strong sunshine despite the relatively mild temperatures.
A substantial warm-up is then forecast from Tuesday, September 22. Inland areas will heat up steadily, reaching their highest temperatures on Wednesday and Thursday at between 10F and 15F above normal for the time of year.
Heat advisories could be issued as the ridge of high pressure strengthens. The hottest inland locations may come close to 100F on Thursday, although longer autumn nights should bring some relief after sunset.
The National Weather Service has said moderate heat risk is likely to return across parts of the interior, particularly the East Bay, South Bay and areas around the Santa Lucia Range, during the middle of the week.
