LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — With temperatures forecast to be well over the century mark later this week, the National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat watch for a large portion of California that includes Lake County.

The excessive heat watch, in effect from Friday morning through Sunday evening, warns of dangerously hot conditions with temperatures of up to 109 degrees Fahrenheit possible.

Climate Central reported that due to temperature anomalies, conditions are expected to be more than 15 degrees hotter than normal across most of California.

Temperatures this week are forecast to slowly climb from the high 80s into the mid 90s through Thursday, before temperatures jump past the century mark on Friday.

The high heat is expected through Sunday evening, with temperatures forecast to begin cooling down and dropping into the 90s beginning on Monday.

“This is a dangerous heat event that will impact tens of millions of people. Carbon emissions from burning coal, oil, and natural gas made this event more likely, longer, and more intense,” said Dr. Andrew Pershing, vice president of science at Climate Central, an independent group of scientists and communicators who research and report the facts about our changing climate and how it affects people’s lives.

Climate Central said populations most vulnerable to high temperatures include older adults, young children, pregnant people, individuals with chronic conditions, members of low income and historically marginalized communities, athletes and outdoor workers.

Exposure to risky heat can trigger heat-related illnesses, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke, a life-threatening condition, the organization said.

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