A strong high pressure ridge over the region produced hot temperatures across interior Northern California from May 14th to May 17th, with many new daily high temperature records set. Record daily high minimum temperatures were also set as clouds and northerly winds maintained the heat overnight. The hot temperatures lingered into the 19th, especially for the northern San Joaquin Valley (see Episode for May 18th and 19th).

Heat in NORTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
From 15-MAY-08 00:00:00 to 15-MAY-08 23:59:00 (PST-8)
Reported by: ASOS

The temperature at Redding Airport reached 103 degrees, tying the daily high temperature record previously set in 1927. The low temperature at the same location was 74 degrees, breaking the previous daily high minimum temperature record of 66 degrees set in 1987. The temperature at Red Bluff Airport reached 104 degrees, breaking the previous daily high temperature record of 98 degrees set in 1970. The low temperature at the same location was 75 degrees, breaking the previous daily high minimum temperature record of 67 degrees set in 1987.

Heat in SOUTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
From 16-MAY-08 00:00:00 to 16-MAY-08 23:59:00 (PST-8)
Reported by: ASOS

The temperature at Sacramento Executive Airport reached 100 degrees, tying the previous daily high temperature record set in 1970.  The temperature at the downtown Sacramento sensor was 101 degrees...just short of the previous daily high temperature record of 102 degrees, also set in 1970.

Heat in NORTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
From 16-MAY-08 00:00:00 to 16-MAY-08 23:59:00 (PST-8)
Reported by: ASOS

The temperature at Stockton Airport reached 103 degrees, tying the previous daily high temperature record set in 1970. The temperature at Modesto Airport reached 105 degrees, breaking the previous daily high temperature record of 103 degrees, also set in 1970.

Heat in NORTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
From 17-MAY-08 00:00:00 to 17-MAY-08 23:59:00 (PST-8)
Reported by: ASOS

The temperature at Redding Airport reached 106 degrees, breaking the previous daily high temperature record of 104 degrees set in 1973. The temperature at Red Bluff Airport reached 104 degrees, breaking the previous daily high temperature record of 103 degrees, also set in 1973. The low temperature at Red Bluff airport was 68 degrees, breaking the previous daily high minimum temperature record of 66 degrees set in 1973.

Heat in SOUTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
From 17-MAY-08 00:00:00 to 17-MAY-08 23:59:00 (PST-8)
Reported by: ASOS

The temperature at Sacramento Executive Airport reached 102 degrees, breaking the previous daily high temperature record of 100 degrees set in 1997. The temperature at the downtown Sacramento sensor reached 102 degrees, breaking the previous daily high temperature record of 101 degrees, also set in 1997.

Heat in SOUTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
From 15-MAY-08 00:00:00 to 15-MAY-08 23:59:00 (PST-8)
Reported by: ASOS

The temperature at Sacramento Executive Airport reached 99 degrees, breaking the previous daily high temperature record of 97 degrees set in 1976. The low temperature at the same location was 72 degrees, breaking the previous daily high minimum temperature record of 64 degrees, also set in 1976. The low temperature in downtown Sacramento was 69 degrees, breaking the previous daily high minimum temperature record of 68 degrees set in 1910.

Heat in NORTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
From 17-MAY-08 00:00:00 to 17-MAY-08 23:59:00 (PST-8)
Reported by: ASOS

The temperature at Stockton Airport reached 104 degrees, breaking the previous daily high temperature record of 100 degrees set in 1997. The temperature at Modesto Airport reached 105 degrees, breaking the previous daily high temperature record of 98 degrees, also set in 1997.

Heat in NORTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
From 15-MAY-08 00:00:00 to 15-MAY-08 23:59:00 (PST-8)
Reported by: ASOS

The temperature at Stockton Airport reached 100 degrees, breaking the previous daily high temperature record of 97 degrees set in 2006. The temperature at Modesto Airport reached 101 degrees, breaking the previous daily high temperature record of 98 degrees set in 2006.
A 17 year old pregnant farmworker collapsed from heat exhaustion at 1430PST on May 14th while pruning at a vineyard east of Stockton, in the town of Farmington. The high temperature at Stockton Airport that day was 93 degrees, and the heat index was lower than the temperature, well below heat advisory criteria. She later died in a hospital, on May 16th.

Heat in NORTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
From 16-MAY-08 00:00:00 to 16-MAY-08 23:59:00 (PST-8)
Reported by: ASOS

The temperature at Redding Airport reached 103 degrees, breaking the previous daily high temperature record of 101 degrees set in 2006 and tying the old city daily high temperature record of 103 degrees set in 1924. The temperature at Red Bluff Airport reached 104 degrees, breaking the previous daily high temperature record of 100 degrees set in 1973.