Heatwave Hits Bay Area, People Seek Shade and Coolness

The morning of Thursday started hot in the East Bay, with a 9:30 a. m. temperature already near 85°F. A woman walking her labrador felt the sweat on her headband, while the dog’s panting was loud even under a shade. The heat climbed quickly across the region, with some spots aiming for 100°F and others staying in the mid‑90s. Along the water’s edge, the gauge reached 80°F. In San Jose, a 67‑year‑old woman said her Australian Shepherd refused to leave the rose garden at 90°F. “It’s too early for this, ” she complained, thinking her home would soon hit the same temperature. The inside of houses seemed safer, and a heat advisory stayed in effect until 11 p. m. , covering the entire area. The National Weather Service labeled the heat risk as moderate, with inland regions expecting to feel it through Friday. A 59‑year‑old mother and her 17‑year‑old daughter paused in the shade of the Rose Garden while heading to a market for cold drinks. The mother described the heat as “stressful” early in the day, and the daughter ran through sprinklers to cool off. A 36‑year‑old man running by Lake Merritt felt the day’s heat was intense but anticipated a more comfortable weekend. He noted that the temperatures would ease in the coming days.

Meteorologists said a southerly wind surge will start breaking the high pressure that created this heat, beginning along the Central Coast and moving to San Francisco by Thursday night. Interior areas may wait until Friday night for relief. By Saturday, the marine layer is expected to return, keeping daytime highs in the 90s for the hottest spots while cooler areas stay in the upper 80s. Oakland is projected to remain in the 70s through Saturday. The National Weather Service also announced an El Nino advisory after detecting a new development in the tropical Pacific. This could raise high‑tide flooding risks along the coast, prompting a coastal flood advisory through June 17. Waves could rise up to 1¾ feet in bayshore locations by Saturday, so beachgoers were advised to give extra travel time and avoid driving through shallow water.

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