Gilroy
– It was an unpleasant surprise for some, but for others the
perfect temperature for an end-of-summer holiday weekend, and the
heat wave the area is experiencing is expected to continue for the
next several days, at least.
Gilroy – It was an unpleasant surprise for some, but for others the perfect temperature for an end-of-summer holiday weekend, and the heat wave the area is experiencing is expected to continue for the next several days, at least.
According to the National Weather Service, it is normal for South County to have several periods of triple-digit temperatures during late summer. Monday’s high was 102 in Gilroy – 2 degrees shy of the record set in 1977 – and 104 in Morgan Hill.
The area will continue to experience hot weather, with highs hovering near 100. Temperatures are expected to fall several degrees daily as the weekend approaches.
David Sandhu, shift supervisor at Cold Stone Creamery in Pacheco Pass Center, said that while sales in the past few months have been lagging, the weekend heat wave proved beneficial.
“(Sunday night sales were) quite a bit higher than what we’ve seen on average for the rest of the summer,” Sandhu said.
Chris Crockett, senior park ranger at Coyote Lake County Park, said campgrounds were full.
“We’re maxed out on boat capacity now,” Crockett said Monday afternoon. “There’s about five or six boats waiting in line. So we’ve definitely been busy. People are starting to pack up and head home now because they’ve got to go back to work tomorrow, but it’s been an active morning. It’s been good.”
In Morgan Hill, many residents cooled off at the new Aquatics Center, where the staff described the place as “packed” all three days.
The reason for the heat wave, according to the National Weather Service, is an offshore flow pattern that brings winds from an easterly direction, stopping an onshore flow from the ocean. The winds coming down from the eastern hills warm our area as well as coastal areas as they descend, making beaches like Santa Cruz popular spots for a last summer weekend.
Weather conditions in South County contributed to levels of pollution deemed unhealthy for certain groups of people Monday, including those with asthma or other pre-existing respiratory ailments, the elderly, because lung function decreases with age, toddlers and athletes taking part in strenuous exercise.
Because of these conditions, Monday was declared a “Spare the Air” day, when residents are encouraged to take precautions to decrease their contribution of pollutants to the atmosphere. The air district asked residents not to barbecue on Labor Day as one way to not raise pollution levels.
Today also is declared a “Spare the Air” day.
The Santa Clara County Fire Department and the California Department of Forestry recommend clearing a “defensible space” around homes and outbuildings, moving woodpiles away from homes and outbuildings and if you need to use a lawnmower or other yard equipment, do so early in the day when the air is cooler and the vegetation is not as dry.
