Sun and Blue Skies Expected All Week

Bay Area residents can prepare for sunshine over the next several days, as this week is expected to be one of the region's warmest of the year, according to the National Weather Service.

The higher temperatures will be noticeable throughout the Bay Area -- even in San Francisco, which is known for its chilly summers, said Charles Bell, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service.

September is the warmest month on average for San Francisco, said
Jan Null, a meteorologist with Golden Gate Weather Services. Many parts of the Bay Area reach their highest daily temperatures in July, he said.

While the Bay Area will be warm, residents don't need to worry about extreme heat, Bell said. However, the Bay Area Quality Management District has called for the second Spare the Air Day of Tuesday — the second in a row as a result of the warm weather.

"Tomorrow, we are again forecasting unhealthy concentrations of smog," district executive officer Jack Broadbent said today. "With temperatures continuing to run high, it's more important than ever that residents drive less, take public transportation, reduce energy use and do their part to minimize pollution."

Motor vehicle exhaust, gasoline vapors, industrial emissions and household chemicals contain volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides that can combine with oxygen.

When in the presence of heat and sunlight, it can create ground-level ozone. Long-term exposure to ozone can reduce lung function and high levels of ozone are particularly harmful to children, seniors and those with heart and respiratory conditions, district officials said.

Tuesday is the second consecutive Spare the Air Day this week and the sixth for 2011.

"We're not anticipating hot weather where we're experiencing health advisories because people without air conditioning might be at risk," Bell said. "This should be one of the nicest weeks of the whole year for the whole Bay Area."

The warm weather is a welcome change for some cities, including
Monterey, which experienced its coldest summer on record, he said.

"It's great weather for people to go outdoors -- camping, picnicking or hiking," Bell said.

But he advised Bay Area residents to make their outdoor plans before the weekend, as the warm weather is only expected to continue through Friday.