Three-day NWS forecast of 100°F+ temperatures not hot enough to open Elk Grove cooling center
Objectively, the summer of 2025 has been mild in Elk Grove and the Sacramento region compared to historical weather conditions. In 2024, Sacramento and Elk Grove experienced 16 days of triple-digit weather, which was one above the historic average.
Year to date, the National Weather Service (NWS) reports that seven triple-digit days have been recorded at their Sacramento Executive Airport monitoring station (Elk Grove does not have an official NWS monitoring station). Those dates were May 30 and 31, June 28, July 11, and August 8-10 (see document below).
As such, there has been a reduced need for cooling centers throughout the region. However, after the recent three-day heat wave, which the NWS forecasted and ended on Sunday, August 10, Sacramento County opened at least one cooling center to assist the unhoused and others who lack access to cooling facilities.
Even though Elk Grove temperatures exceeded 100°F for three days starting August 8, the city of Elk Grove decided not to open at least one cooling center during the daylight hours. You may wonder why, with the NWS forecast for three consecutive triple-digit days, the city decided not to open a facility.
The short answer is that three days with temperatures exceeding 100°F are not quite hot enough to render services.
An examination of the city's policy to make potentially life-saving services available to at-risk individuals requires a forecast of "3 days of temperatures categorized as Major or Extreme on the National Weather Service HeatRisk Index."
When Google Gemini is asked, "What is the National Weather Service's definition of major or extreme heat risk index? (using the city's phraseology on its website), The response was, "The National Weather Service (NWS) defines a major or extreme heat risk using a color-coded index called NWS HeatRisk, alongside other terms like 'Heat Warning' and 'Excessive Heat Watch. Major or extreme heat risk is generally indicated by a red or magenta color on the NWS HeatRisk scale, and it signifies a significant threat to life and property due to prolonged or unusually intense heat."
A review of the red area in the graph below says, "A High Threat to Life and Property from Excessive Heat." Highest heat index between 113 - 117 degrees (F). Heat Index Values consistent with Excessive Heat Warning criteria."
The magenta color area says "An Extreme Threat to Life and Property from Excessive Heat. Highest heat index 118 degrees (F) or greater."
Visit this page to calculate the heat index. On Sunday, Elk Grove reached at least 103°F at 4 p.m. (see image below), and Sacramento's average summertime humidity is 38 percent; therefore, the heat index was approximately 114.8.
Put another way, according to Elk Grove policy, a cooling center will operate if the heat index exceeds 113°F for three consecutive days, which does not include the "moderate" category in the graph below, which ranges from 108 to 112°F.
Two days over 105° - tough luck, the city will not open the facility according to their guidelines. One day forecast of over 110 - no dice - stay in your sweltering dwelling.
Although we have experienced cool weather, this is an anomaly that lessens the effect on our memory of the recent heat wave. If hot temperatures do not return for the balance of the season, you can bet your bottom dollar they will return next summer.
As the city continues to boast about the extra money it has collected due to the regressive Measure E sales tax, it is too cheap to cough up a few thousand dollars to help out at-risk residents, because, well, three days of temperatures only slightly above 100°F are tolerable. And remember, it is only 105°, and it's a dry heat!
That Measure E cash is taken from the struggling families and seniors to pay the fat salaries of the city's executive staff and to fund all those lavish junkets for the mayor and city council. Someone has to win the game - too bad it isn't at-risk residents.
#8647 #NoKings #ProDemocracy
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1 comment
Maybe the City can invent a new Mello Roos fee--call it, The Supplemental Cooling Fee for Disadvantaged Residents Who Don't Pay Us A Lot in Sales Tax Revenue But We Have A Heart Anyway!
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