Gilroy
– The late summer heat wave continued Wednesday as Gilroy hit a
high of 103 degrees, the fourth day in a row of temperatures
surpassing the 100-degree mark.
By Lori Stuenkel
Gilroy – The late summer heat wave continued Wednesday as Gilroy hit a high of 103 degrees, the fourth day in a row of temperatures surpassing the 100-degree mark.
Gilroy tied a heat record on Tuesday with 103 degrees, but Wednesday’s high fell short of the previous record of 108 degrees.
“It’s a little unusual to be hot that long,” said Steve Anderson, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Monterey.
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District declared Wednesday a “Spare the air” day, as air quality was expected to exceed federal standards. Hot temperatures and light wind in late summer traps air pollutants near the ground.
On such days, residents are asked to drive less, by carpooling or taking public transportation, to reduce pollution.
Physical activity also is not recommended during afternoon hours on “Spare the air” days. The first Gilroy High School girls’ tennis match of the season, scheduled to take place Wednesday, was canceled as a result.
The heat throughout the Bay Area and Silicon Valley also continued the high demand for electricity across the state. With Tuesday marking the sixth record-setting day of power usage in a row, residents are being asked to avoid using electricity during peak afternoon hours.
Under the Flex Your Power Now program, residents are asked to set thermostats at 78 degrees, as well as shut their blinds and use electric appliances in the evening instead of the afternoon.
Anderson said temperatures are expected to cool through the rest of the week, with a high of 96 degrees today and Friday. Saturday is expected to be 88 degrees and by Sunday, the high should be about 87 degrees.
