By Kara Shire
Tri-Valley Herald

August 24, 1999

Monday's soaring temperatures wilted the white lilacs at an outdoor Pleasanton flower shop and sent a small bunch of purple tulips to the cooler for refuge. The blue bachelor's buttons just leaned over and died.

Blair Greene wasn't nearly so tramautized by Monday's 91 degree high. The Main Street Flower Market floral de signer and painter said she's been expecting the warmer temperatures. After all, it is summer.

"The fact that we had an unusually cold summer was different," said Greene. "This heat is what we expect."

According to the National Weather Service, more heat is exactly what's in store for the Tri-Valley as a ridge of high pressure continues to keep the cool ocean air out at sea for the next three to four days.

Manteca topped out at 100 Monday. Livermore fell close behind with a high of 97 and Danville hit 95. In San Ramon, the high temperature was 90 and in Pleasanton 91. Temperatures Monday hovered around the 60s along the coast.

The National Weather Service predicts highs in the mid-70s near San Francisco Bay today and more than 100 degrees in Livermore.

"For Livermore, it's par for the course this time of year," said Diane Henderson, a meteorologist with the weather service.

For the Oakwood Lake Resort, home of the Manteca waterslides, the sultry forecast is great news.

"People definitely respond when it's hot,"said President Mike Brown. "We welcome the return of summertime."

More than 200 people cooled off at the Aquatic Center in Pleasanton, but Monday's temperatures were nothing like the weekend's triple-digit heat, said Angela Perez, a pool cashier.

"It's not like it's sweltering. It's not as hot as it was (Sunday)," said Perez.

Temperatures have stayed about 10 to 15 degrees cooler on average this summer because of La Nina, a cold water current that brings with it chilly temperatures.

The weather phenomenon is projected to stay in the Bay Area through next year, resulting in generally lower temperatures, said Diana Henderson, a National Weather Service forecaster.

But La Nina isn't powerful enough to void the affects of the high pressure build-up that moved into the Bay Area over the last few days, causing the roasting weather that's pushing Valley temperatures 10 to 15 degrees warmer than average.

That hot weather is compounded for John Torres, owner of Altamont Roofing in Livermore, who spends his days juggling hot shingles on roofs that create temperatures 20 to 40 degrees hotter than those on the ground.

"A lot of times you just grin and bear it," Torres said of roofing work. "You don't get used to (the heat), but you have to do it. I'm telling you, it's hot."

The steamy temperatures make working outside more than uncomfortable, they also pose a potential health hazard, said Natalie Probert, a fire prevention specialist at the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District.

Heat exhaustion strikes when temperatures are high and typically effects people who exercise heavily or work out side. Younger children and older adults are particularly at risk. Symptoms include dizziness, nausea, heavy sweating, flushed skin and exhaustion.

The hot weather also increases the threat of grass fires, Probert said.

"You run a higher chance of a grass fire starting and spreading very quickly on days like this," she said.

While no calls for grass fires or heat-related medical emergencies were made Monday, Probert said the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District is ready and waiting.

The weekend's hot weather caught the Bay Area Air Quality Management District by surprise, so it didn't issue a "spare the air" advisory despite excessive pollution levels, said spokesman Will Taylor.

District meteorologist Kip Smith said hotter weather expected Wednesday could reduce air quality again. The last Spare the Air Day, which encourages people to use public transportation and cut down on barbecues and gasoline powered lawn mowers, was July 12.