By admin After the hottest weekend of summer for much of interior California, with temperatures in parts of the Central Valley approaching 110 degrees over the past several days, a cool reprieve is on the way.
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As high pressure overhead in the upper atmosphere weakens substantially over the course of the week, it will bring about a welcome combination of cooler temperatures and monsoonal moisture. By next weekend, the experience outdoors will be more enjoyable for most looking to take advantage of the dwindling days of summer break.
The reprieve, however, will not be spread evenly. Sacramento will benefit from a wonderful Delta breeze Monday afternoon with highs in the mid-90s, while Fresno roasts back to near 110 degrees.
Extreme heat warning for San Joaquin Valley, Fresno and Merced
Despite the coming cooldown, that cooler air still has to make it here.
High temperatures this Monday afternoon will again surge past 100 degrees in the San Joaquin Valley. From Bakersfield north through Fresno and Merced, high temps nearing 110 degrees will be possible. There is a major heat risk for outdoor activity, and those working outdoors in the afternoon should take extra precaution to hydrate and not overheat during normal activities.
Meanwhile, some of the San Joaquin Valley foothills will not benefit from the cool radiational cooling effect that will help the rest of the Central Valley overnight. While Fresno cools into the mid-70s for the low temperatures over the next several days, some spots on the edge of both the Central Coast range and the Sierra could be stuck with overnight lows well into the 80s.
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Cool down starts this week, passing clouds Tuesday and Wednesday
Further north in the Sacramento Valley and Delta region, the cooldown is already underway. As the upper atmosphere heat dome weakens today through Wednesday, the oppressive clear skies will be able to breath once again. Expect the Delta breeze to feel wonderful, if not even a tad chilly in the evenings, as it returns in force for Sacramento, Stockton and even Modesto by the evening hours. High temps for Sacramento will only top out in the mid-90s Monday, tumble to the 80s by Thursday, and the low to mid-80s are not out of the question all weekend long. The forecast is similar for Stockton and Modesto.
This cooldown will also allow a plume of monsoonal moisture to return to portions of California from the south. Alongside passing clouds Tuesday and Wednesday, stray showers and thunderstorms are expected across portions of the Sierra. There is even a brief potential window for a few tiny raindrops in the Sacramento area Wednesday, although any rain on the radar is unlikely to reach the ground. For the Sierra, the skies Tuesday and Wednesday will at times be mostly cloudy.
The cooldown will eventually arrive in the San Joaquin Valley too. By Friday, high temps for the Fresno area cool down well into the 90s.
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This story was originally published August 10, 2026 at 7:00 AM.