BARSTOW — Although Wednesday’s cool temperatures and high winds may have blown the thought of summer from many Barstonians’ minds, the summer heat will return.

The latest National Weather Service information shows that Barstow’s summer temperatures will likely be above normal this year, said meteorologist Chris Stachelski with the NWS’s Las Vegas station.

Based on patterns in the atmosphere, weather conditions over the winter and other factors, the NWS shows a 61 percent chance of above-normal temperatures this summer, a 27 percent chance of normal temperatures and a 12 percent chance of a cooler than average summer, he said.

A large factor contributing to the likely hot temperatures this summer is the recent trend of dry winters, he said. Despite the few days of rain this winter, Stachelski said the past two winters have been drier than normal. The lack of rain means that the ground is dry, compounding the heat of the sun.

Barstonians can likely expect the amount of rainfall to be about average over the summer. The current 90-day forecast shows an equal chance of above or below-normal levels of rainfall, Stachelski said.

The average amount of rainfall for Barstow in the months of June, July and August is .84 inches. June is typically the driest month of the year, with some monsoon thunderstorms arriving to relieve the heat in July and August.

“It’s very variable,” Stachelski said. “... A thunderstorm could be a quarter-inch or one inch (of rain). You might get one day with one inch of rain and your whole average is high.”

At this point, the NWS does not have a prediction for when the temperature will first reach 100 degrees this year. On average, thermometers begin hitting 100 degrees around May 25, Stachelski said. The latest recorded date for temperatures to reach 100 was June 21, 1953. The earliest recorded 100-degree day was April 8, 1989.

The hot temperatures predicted for this summer will continue the trend of last summer, when thermometers hit 118 degrees on July 5. That was the hottest temperature recorded in Barstow since 1948, Stachelski said.

Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4123 or abby_sewell@link.freedom.com

The outlook for fire season

Tracey Martinez, a spokesperson with the San Bernardino County Fire Department, said fire officials anticipate a bad fire season in the desert due to the amount of vegetation that has sprung up after the winter rains. With the predicted higher-than-normal temperatures this summer, the grass may dry out quickly, becoming a potential fire hazard, she said.

Division Chief Sal Corrao with Barstow Fire Protection District said the severity of the fire season will depend on the amount of rainfall over the summer, as well as the winds.

To better protect your home during fire season:
• Clear weeds, dried grass, and other flammable debris at least 100 feet around your home. Keep flammable items like firewood and lawn furniture away from structures.
• Store flammable liquids in approved safety cans away from occupied buildings.
• Keep propane tanks free of vegetation.
• Remove tree limbs and branches that overhang the roof of your house. Remove all branches lower than six feet.
• Soak stove or fireplace ashes and charcoal briquettes in a metal pail for 24 hours before disposing of them.
• Keep a garden hose connected to a faucet.
• Make sure your address is visible from the street so firefighters can easily find it in the event of an emergency.
• Create an emergency escape plan, review it with your family and hold a fire drill
Source: San Bernardino County Fire Department

Avoiding heat-related health problems

Higher than usual summer temperatures will likely lead to more heat-induced medical problems, said Barstow Fire Protection District Division Chief Sal Corrao.

Barstow Community Hospital offered the following tips on avoiding heat-related health issues:

• Minimize strenuous activities or attempt to schedule them for the coolest time of day. The hottest hours are between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Plan workouts or other outdoor activities for the coolest part of the day, between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing.
• Eat lighter. High-protein foods increase metabolic heat production and water loss.
• Drink plenty of water and other non-alcoholic fluids. Avoid alcoholic beverages, which cause dehydration.
• Avoid spending time in the sun. Spend as much time as possible in air-conditioned places.
• Head to the pool to cool off.
• Call 911 if you or someone else are experiencing potential heat stroke or heat exhaustion.