Near-record heat in Santa Rosa

So, you think’s it’s been unusually hot this summer?

You’d be correct.

Today’s temperature in downtown Santa Rosa had reached 100 degrees by 2 p.m., yet another example of how North Bay counties are being bathed in above average heat.

Since June 1 there have been 51 days in which the daily high temperature exceeded the average high (83 degrees) for that period. In the previous four years that happened only 35 times a year on average.

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Santa Rosa now has had five days this summer of temperatures of 100 degrees or higher. That’s more than in the previous four years combined (three).

Wait! Here’s another one. The average high since June 1 has been 83 degrees. That’s 3 degrees higher than the average of the previous four years and 1 degree higher than the 30-year average.

The record high for a Sept. 5 is 101 degrees in 1923.

Forecasters say Sunday will be another 90-plus-degree day, but normal low 80s should return Monday and extend into the week.