How hot will it get and is rain on the way? Here’s this week’s Sacramento-area forecast

Scorching temperatures will sear the Sacramento Valley and parts of the foothills in the coming week, while thunderstorms may strike the neaby Sierra Nevada.

Highs well in excess of 100 degrees are expected in the Valley and foothills beginning Monday, according to Sara Purdue, a meteorologist with the U.S. National Weather Service in Sacramento.

The weather service posted a heat advisory to social media Sunday afternoon. It will be in effect from 11 a.m. Monday to 11 p.m. Thursday. The advisory warns of the increased risk of heat stress and illness in humans and animals.

People are encouraged to stay cool and hydrated and reduce their time in the sun from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.

Purdue said there is a chance for thunderstorms in the Sierra Nevada and that those storms could drift down to foothills in the region. However, these thunderstorms are unlikely to increase fire risk, she said.

“There is always a chance that lightning can strike outside the core of the thunderstorm where the rain is falling, and that would increase the chances of a fire start,” Purdue said. “Based on what we’ve seen so far, I don’t believe we’re expecting that, especially at higher elevations. Things are still not super dried out yet because of all the snow that we got last year.”

She said the thunderstorms are not expected to impact the Valley.

If people see lightning, they should go indoors, seeking out a sturdy structure with a roof and staying inside for 30 minutes after last hearing thunder and also avoid touching electronics, trees or metal, according to a separate social media post by the weather service.

“If you see a flash, dash inside,” the post reads.