After a one-day scorcher to start the week in South County with triple digits hitting Gilroy and Morgan Hill, cooler but still warm temperatures will prevail over the weekend and into next week, according to Forecaster Bob Benjamin of the National Weather Service.
A new record high of 109 degrees was set in Gilroy on June 8, eclipsing the previous high of 102 degrees set in 1973, while Morgan Hill reached 104 degrees on the hottest day of the week.
“It doesn’t really constitute a heat wave because it only lasted one day,” Benjamin said. “Heat waves have to go at least a couple of days, but it was very uncomfortable for that one day.”
Temperatures will peak in the low 90s today (June 12) and then settle in with highs in the mid 80s and lows in the 50s through early next week, Benjamin added. No rain is expected.
“Things should cool down,” Benjamin said. “(Temperatures) have been much cooler than they were a couple of days ago.”
Saturday is expected to have a high of 86 and low of 59, while Saturday is forecast with a high of 82 and low of 56, according to Benjamin.
Asked about reports of an El Nino hitting South County this coming rainy season, Benjamin said that could mean “more frequent and more potent storms” in the area. The wet season begins in mid-October with December and January being the wettest months, he said.
“We are anticipating at least a moderate El Nino going into the rainy season,” Benjamin said.
He explained that El Nino is more defined by dry weather to the north in the Pacific northwest and wetter weather in Southern California. Since South County lands in the middle, the weather patterns are less distinct, Benjamin explained.
