August 3, 2026
Heat Wave Update | August 3, 2026 | 2 min read
The North Bay just came off its warmest stretch of the season. Inland communities pushed toward the century mark over the Aug. 1-2 weekend, while the coast stayed comfortably out of the fray. Here's a rundown of what happened and how to keep your home running smoothly for the next one, whenever it hits.
Inland spots led the pack: Santa Rosa, Napa, and San Jose were forecast to hit the low 90s, while East Bay locations like Concord and Livermore pushed toward triple digits, per the National Weather Service. The coast barely noticed. San Francisco stayed in the upper 70s, and Oakland hovered around 80.
Inland Sonoma and Napa counties carried the bulk of the heat risk. As usual, the interior valleys, Livermore, Concord, greater Santa Rosa, ran noticeably hotter than San Francisco, which the coastal marine layer kept relatively comfortable.
Somewhat less than usual, actually. Low humidity paired with only light winds during this stretch, which kept the kind of wind-driven fire conditions that usually accompany a hot, dry pattern from developing.
Arguably a bigger concern than the heat itself. The National Weather Service flagged dangerous sneaker waves and strong rip currents up and down the coast, from Sonoma County to Monterey County, and urged beachgoers to stick to lifeguarded beaches and never turn their backs on the surf.
More warm spells are likely before summer's out. Staying hydrated, saving strenuous outdoor activity for the cooler parts of the day, and having a cool space to retreat to all remain good habits through the rest of the season.
Prep your home before the next heat wave
Your AC just put in overtime: make sure it's ready to do it again. A few things worth doing now:
Sources: The Press Democrat, CBS San Francisco, KQED, National Weather Service Bay Area.
