Modesto to see big jump in temperatures. Here’s how hot it’s expected to get

Deke Farrow
·2 min read

Say goodbye to the 70s, and hello to the 90s. And this time, we’re largely skipping the 80s.

Most Valley residents won’t be surprised to see moderate temperatures in the 70s end. That’s common for mid-May. But the quick leap into the 90s and a string of days in that temperature range is not.

The predicted high in Modesto on Friday is near 86 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. After that, the rest of the seven-day forecast is all 90s: near 93 Saturday, 96 Sunday, 93 Monday, 94 Tuesday and 93 Wednesday.

For the foreseeable future, the days will be “pretty warm,” in the upper 80s to low 90s, said Chelsea Peters, a meteorologist in the Weather Service’s Sacramento office. At least through May 24, forecasting tools show the “overall pattern looks favorable” to the region having above-normal temperatures.

And what are normal temperatures for this time of year? Modesto Irrigation District weather records, which date back to 1939, show the range of average high temperatures for the dates May 12-24 is 80 to 82 degrees.

The same records show that averages for May 1-11 run from 77 to 80, whereas Modesto has seen an unseasonably cool range from 60 to 72.

The Weather Service says this warming trend the region is entering will bring widespread moderate risk for heat-related illnesses for pets, livestock and those who are sensitive to heat, especially those without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration.

And because many residents may be tempted to turn to reservoirs and waterways to cool off, the Weather Service warns that rivers and creeks continue to flow high, cold, and fast as a result of mountain snowmelt.

Some California counties have closed swollen rivers to recreation because of the threat of drowning and the challenges of trying to rescue people in those conditions.

A sign from Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services warns visitors of unpredictable river flows on the Stanislaus River at Jacob Myers Park in Riverbank, Calif., Thursday, May 11, 2023.
A sign from Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services warns visitors of unpredictable river flows on the Stanislaus River at Jacob Myers Park in Riverbank, Calif., Thursday, May 11, 2023.

Stanislaus County Sheriff Jeff Dirkse has said he is not restricting access but has stressed that the waterways are hazardous for those lacking the proper equipment and skills.