Excessive heat watch issued for Merced area as temperatures expected to increase, forecasters say

Andrew Kuhn

June 27, 2024 at 8:18 p.m.·5 min read

An excessive heat watch has been issued for the Merced area as temperatures are expected increase throughout the weekend and into next week, according to forecasters.

According to meteorologist Antoinette Serrato at the National Weather Service in Hanford, an excessive heat watch has been issued for the area and will be in place from 11 a.m. on July 2 through 5 a.m. on July 5 as evening temperatures on the July 4 holiday are expected to remain around 70 degrees.

Serrato said temperatures throughout Merced County are expected to reach 100 degrees by Monday of next week and get progressively hotter before the holiday. Forecaster said the rising temperatures are expected to remain below Merced’s all-time record high of 116 degrees which was recorded in September of 2022.

According to Serrato, Merced area residents can expect to see high temperatures reach about 94 degrees on Thursday before cooling off to about 58 degrees overnight. Friday temperatures are expected to reach a high of about 96 degrees before decreasing to about 60 degrees overnight.

Both Saturday and Sunday are expected to see a high of about 98 degrees according to Serrato, before decreasing at night to about 63 degrees and 64 degrees respectively. The area is expected to see temperatures break the 100-degree mark on Monday with a high temperature of about 102 degrees and an overnight low of about 68.

The area is expected to see high temperatures reach about 105 degrees Tuesday with on overnight low of about 69.

Serrato said the Merced area is expected to see high temperatures of about 108 degrees during the hottest part of the day on July 3 before decreasing to about 70 degrees overnight. Forecasters expect Fourth of July holiday temperatures for the area to be only a couple degrees cooler than the previous day.

Merced is one of the area counties that will see an extreme heat risk as temperatures continue to rise over the weekend and into next week, according to forecasters.

Excessive heat can result in individuals being at risk, regardless of adequate cooling, if exposed to heat for extended periods of time, according to forecasters. Those without adequate cooling are at an increased risk of heat-related illness.

Forecasters advise residents to stay hydrated, find adequate cooling including available cooling centers and to limit time spent outside, especially during the hottest hours of the day. It is also recommended to check on young children, the elderly and others susceptible to the heat and prone to heat related illness.

County has cooling zones

According to the County of Merced, cooling zones can be found at the following locations.

Atwater City Hall Lobby, 750 Bellevue Road: Monday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m..
Atwater Library Branch , 1600 Third Street: Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m..
Delhi Library Branch, 16881 West Schendel Road: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m..
Dos Palos City Hall, 2174 Blossom St.: Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m..
Dos Palos Police Department, 1546 Golden Gate Ave. Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m..
Dos Palos Library Branch, 2002 Almond St.: Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m..
Gustine Library Branch, 205 6th Street: Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m..
Hilmar Library Branch, 20041 West Falke St.: Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m..
Le Grand Library Branch, 12949 Le Grand Road: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m.to 6 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m..
Livingston Police Department, 1446 C Street: Sunday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m..
Livingston Library Branch, 1212 Main St.: Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m..
Los Banos Library Branch, 1312 Seventh St.: Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m..
Los Banos-Mercy Springs Church of Nazarene, 1238 Santa Barbara Dr.: Wednesday through Friday 1 p.m. to 8 p.m..
Merced Library Branch, 2100 O Street: Monday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m..
Santa Nella Library Branch, 29188 W. Centinella Ave.: Tuesday and Thursday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m..
Snelling Library Branch, 15916 North Highway 59: Tuesday and Thursday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m..

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County has cooling zones

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