Live Updates: KVPR Heat Blog ☀️

The chance for 105-degree weather or higher is high this weekend, the National Weather Service office in Hanford warns.

Temperatures may reach higher than 105 Saturday and Sunday, keeping an excessive heat warning in place for the region.

The National Weather Service says the the chance for these high temperatures is more than 80 percent for Fresno, Bakersfield, Delano and Lemoore areas.

They say stay hydrated with water or a sports drink, wear light-colored clothes and avoid the outdoors during the hottest hours. The excessive heat means that much of the population is vulnerable to heat illnesses, especially as temperatures remain high even at nighttime.

If you live in Tulare County and want to get out of the heat, Tulare County has cooling centers available.

The county has an interactive map to find the centers in cities like Porterville, Visalia, Tulare and smaller cities in between. Click here to find the map.

Other resources available on the Tulare County website include pool safety as many may spend the hot days next to the pool. The county offers "a self-inspection checklist, directories of organizations throughout the Valley that offer swimming lessons as well as CPR training, insightful safety videos, and much more for you to use at your convenience."

And, don't forget about your pets. The county reminds people not to leave pets inside a hot car and to monitor for heat stress.

And those tips surely apply to people vulnerable in hot temperatures. The county recommends getting shade, staying hydrated and limiting activities under high temperatures.

Swamp coolers may not always do the job of cooling you down in triple digit weather. And you might see dollar signs each time your air conditioning unit kicks on.

If both of these things sound familiar, there are alternatives to cooling down as temperatures remain high.

Fresno County has created a map where you can find cooling centers, pools and splash pads. It even shows you bus routes to get you there. Click here to see the map.

The county does advise that hours and locations are subject to change, and not all locations may be open. To know for sure, it's recommended you call the location where you want to go first. You can find the list of locations, addresses, and contact information here.

National Park Service officials say a man died on Tuesday at Death Valley National Park as temperatures soared to 121 degrees Fahrenheit.

They say it was a 71-year-old man from Los Angeles who collapsed outside a restroom in the Golden Canyon area. He was wearing hiking clothes and his car was in the parking lot.

Park rangers tried to do CPR but were not able to save him. Park rangers suspect heat was a factor in the death.

A second man was found dead from possible heat illness earlier this month. Park officials say hiking is not recommended at low elevations after 10 a.m.

While Fresno is no stranger to heat in the summer, with hot temperatures hitting several parts of the United States at once, how does this July compare to previous years?

The National Weather Service’s Hanford office predicts temperatures will remain in the triple digits for the rest of the month. As of Wednesday, July has seen 11 days of temperatures in the triple digits.

Last year, the Fresno area ultimately saw 21 days of triple digits in July, compared to 27 days in 2021 and 17 days in 2020.

Some of the hottest annual temperatures in the Fresno area have been recorded within the last few years, with a recorded annual high temperature of 114 in 2021 and 2022.

There's still several days left in July. And, summer will be with us until September.

Starting Tuesday, Hanford residents can cool off for free at the city pool.

City officials are waving admission at “The Plunge” in light of extreme triple digit temperatures.

Now through July 23, residents can save up to $3 per person and beat the heat poolside. For hours visit the City of Hanford’s website.

After a brief mid-week cool-off, the Valley is forecast to see more extreme heat this weekend. The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Watch for Friday morning through Sunday evening. Highs are expected to be between 105 and 110 degrees throughout much of the region.

A heat watch means an excessive heat event is likely — though the precise timing is uncertain. Check the day's forecast for the latest information.