Sacramento Sizzles To 98 As Dry Heat Fuels Fire Fears Before Weekend Cooldown

Clear skies and a temperature near 63 degrees greeted Sacramento early Wednesday, but a 98-degree afternoon is on deck. Full sun and only a light southwest breeze will do little to soften the heat.

Heat Peaks Wednesday And Thursday

The National Weather Service Sacramento office expects another high near 98 on Thursday, although skies could turn mostly cloudy. Overnight lows will stay in the mid-60s, so meaningful relief may wait until late evening.

Dry Air Raises Fire Concerns

The hottest stretch will also be the driest, with afternoon humidity expected to fall into the teens and low 20s across parts of the Sacramento Valley and foothills Wednesday and Thursday. The forecast discussion calls for elevated fire-weather conditions in those areas, even though no watches, warnings or advisories are currently listed.

Friday Brings A Noticeable Break

Temperatures are expected to ease to around 88 degrees Friday, with a 20% chance of light rain late Thursday night into Friday morning. Rain chances fade before the weekend, when Saturday should be sunny near 90 and Sunday sunny near 88.

Cooler Start To Next Week

The downshift continues Monday, with a sunny high near 81, before Tuesday rebounds slightly to about 84. For outdoor plans, it will be smart to handle strenuous work earlier Wednesday and Thursday, keep water close, and take extra care around dry grass and brush.