September Weather Recap
California’s 2020 historic fire season continued through a hot and dry September, with some days seeing the worst air quality the Bay Area and Northern California have experienced. Stay updated on the status of all the current fires (location, percent contained, acres burned, structures destroyed) by visiting CalFire’s Map. This interactive tool gives you access to everything you need to keep an eye on fire progression as this fire season continues into October and possibly November.
As a reminder, the Santa Ana winds in Southern California peak in October, which is when we see the traditional fire risk increase, as it brings in dry, hot desert air from the east. In Northern California, we also see this pattern, but they're called the Diablo wind events. Remember, it’s never too late to brush up on ways to prepare yourself and your home for fire season to reduce your risk.
Reports From My AcuRite Atlas™ Weather Station
The picture above was taken on Sept. 9, 2020, and is of my wireless weather station (the AcuRite Atlas ™ with lightning detection) located in the Bay Area. This was the week the region saw the worst air quality in the world, with most air quality reports exceeding hazardous conditions. The high heat event from Sept. 6-8 created dangerous conditions for wildfire management and allowed the wildfires to continue to spread. The smoke from these fires lingered over Northern California for a solid week, creating dangerous conditions for any outdoor activity. We could smell smoke even getting the mail or taking out the trash.
My AcuRite report shows the high temperature recorded during this heat wave occurred on Sept. 6 with a high temperature of with 116.7 °F (47.1 °C). This was another reason to stay indoors! Not only do these extremely hot temperatures with dry air help to quickly dry out the vegetation, but they also help to preheat the fuels, allowing for more rapid fire spread in areas that are already burning. This exacerbates the fire management efforts to get the fire perimeter contained.
Let’s look at how my record high temperature for the month compares to local Northern California National Weather Service reports and Bay Area September temperature records. See the lists below for record-breaking temperatures reported across the region! Many locations, such as Napa, Gilroy, Santa Rosa, etc., saw their all-time high record temperatures at or above 110 °F (43.3 °C).
Further Reading:
Do you recall the Camp Fire in 2018 that ravaged Paradise, California? Learn how this group Rebuilds in Paradise with AcuRite weather tools. Meanwhile, back East, learn how the Flametamers Wildland Fire Crew in Philadelphia prepares for fire season with an AcuRite 5-in-1 weather station for their mobile command center and an AcuRite Atlas™ installed at the fire department.
Share and Discuss:
What did your September weather look like? How did it compare to regional weather events? What were your September high and low temperatures? Share and discuss your September weather report in the comments below!
